THE  APOSTLE 


Paul  Hyacinthe  Loyson 


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THE  APOSTLE 


VOLUME  XV 
The  Drama  League  Series  of  Plays 


VOLUMES  IN 
THE  DRAMA  LEAGUE  SERIES  OF  PLAYS 


I. — Kindling By  Charles  Kenyon 

II. — A  Thousand  Years  Ago   .       By  Percy  MacKaye 

III. — The  Great  Galeoto     .     .        By  Jose  Echegaray 

IV. — The  Sunken  Bell    .     .     By  Gerhart  Hauptmann 

V. — Mary  Goes  First     .     .     By  Henry  Arthur  Jones 

VI. — Her  Husband's  Wife  .    .    .    By  A.  E.  Thomas 

VII. — Change By  J.  0.  Francis 

Mil. — Marta  of  the  Lowlands  .    .   By  Angel  Guimerd 

IX. — Patrie! By  Victorien  Sardou 

X. — The  Thief By  Henry  Bernstein 

XI. — My  Lady's  Dress     .     .     .  By  Edioard  Knoblauch 

XII. — The  Trail  of  the  Torch  .    .     By  Paul  Hervieu 

XIH. — A  Woman's  Way       .     .  By  Thompson  Buchanan 

Other  Volumes  in  Preparation 


THE  APOSTLE 


A  MODERN  TRAGEDY 
IN  THREE  ACTS 


by 
PAUL  HYACINTHE  LOYSON 


TRANSLATED    BY 

BARRETT  H.  CLARK 


WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION   BY 

PROFESSOR  GEORGE  PIERCE  BAKER 


Garden  City  New  York 

DOUBLEDAY,  PAGE  &  COMPANY 

1916 


Copyright,  1916,  by 
DOUBLEDAY,  PAGE  &  COMPANY 


In  its  present  form  this  play  is  dedicated  to  the  reading 
public  only,  and  no  performances  of  it  may  be  given, 
except  by  special  arrangement  with  the  owner  of  the 
acting  rights,  who  may  be  addressed  in  care  of  the 
publishers. 

Section  28. — That  any  person  who  wilfully  and  for  profit  shall 
infringe  any  copyright  secured  by  tliis  Act,  or  who  shall  know- 
ingly and  wilfully  aid  or  abet  such  infringement,  shall  be 
deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  upon  conviction  thereof 
shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  for  not  exceeding  one  year 
or  by  a  fine  of  not  less  than  one  hundied  dollars  nor  more  than 
one  thousand  dollars,  or  both,  in  the  discretion  of  the  court. 

Section  29. — That  any  person,  who,  with  fraudulent  intent, 
shall  insert  or  impress  any  notice  of  copyright  required  by  this 
Act,  or  words  of  the  same  purport,  in  or  upon  any  uncopyrighted 
article,  or  with  fraudulent  intent  shall  remove  or  alter  the  copy- 
right notice  upon  any  article  duly  copyrighted  shall  be  guilty 
of  a  misdemeanor,  punishable  by  a  nnc  of  not  less  than  one 
hundred  dollars  and  not  more  than  one  thousand  dollars. 


Act  of  March  k,  1909 


To 
RICHARD  E.  MYERS 

THIS  TRANSLATION  IS 

AFFECTIONATELY 

DEDICATED 


INTRODUCTION 

The  four  plays  of  Paul  Hyacinthe  Loyson  are 
studies  in  tragedy  resulting,  not,  as  we  are  accus- 
tomed to  expect,  from  folly  and  unreason,  but  from 
proper  self-respect  and  reason.  Nor,  though  he  wrote 
his  first  play  some  thirteen  years  ago,  is  Mr.  Loyson 
a  prolific  playwright.  "The  Apostle"  is  only  his 
fourth  play.  He  has  been  busy  with  many  activities, 
more  recently  as  a  fearless  fighter  for  new  ideas  and 
the  causes  of  the  downtrodden,  in  the  paper  of  which 
he  has  been  the  editor-in-chief,  Le  Droit  de  V Homme. 
In  1897  he  printed  a  poem,  "Les  Deux  Coupes"; 
in  1899,  "Magor,"  a  dramatic  pamphlet;  in  1900, 
his  first  play,  "L'Evangile  du  Sang";  and  in  the 
following  year  some  poems,  "Sur  les  Marges  d'un 
Drame."  Almost  from  the  beginning  of  his  publica- 
tion, then,  his  chief  thought  has  been  for  the  drama. 
It  was  not,  however,  till  1902,  at  an  experimental 
performance  by  Le  Cercle  des  Escholiers,  at  the 
Nouveau  Theatre,  that  he  had  his  first  production, 
[vii] 


INTRODUCTION 


the  "Dramatic  Episode  in  One  Act,  L'Evangile  du 
Sang." 

The  work  of  Miss  Emily  Hobhouse  in  behalf  of  the 
Boers  gave  him  the  hint  for  his  subject.  An  English 
admiral,  Jack  Mansfield,  is  waiting  for  daybreak  to 
attack  the  forts  and  fleet  of  the  enemy.  To  him 
comes  his  wife,  Jane,  who  has  been  serving  in  the 
hospital  corps.  A  short  time  before,  the  English,  in 
pity  for  the  sufferings  of  the  wounded  among  their 
foes,  whose  hospital  equipment  is  almost  nil,  placed 
an  ambulance  at  their  service.  Jane  has  been  in 
charge  of  it.  She  has  been  so  affected  by  what  she 
has  seen  and  heard  among  the  enemy  that  she  has 
been  protesting  to  the  Government  against  the  war 
as  oppression.  The  play  is  her  struggle  to  convince 
her  husband  that  under  no  circumstances  must  he 
order  the  bombardment.  Though  he  is  himself  no 
lover  of  war  and  is  devoted  to  his  wife,  he  is  firm  in 
his  sense  of  duty.  When  she  goes,  defeated,  she 
leaves  a  note  of  final  farewell.  This  the  admiral 
finds  just  as  distant  cannonading  warns  him  that  the 
English  land  forces  have  been  attacked  by  the  enemy. 
As  he  is  about  to  give  orders  to  fire  on  Fort  Blanc,  a 
lieutenant  rushes  in  to  say  that  his  wife's  boat  is 
making  straight  for  that  fort.  To  fire  is  probably  to 
[  viii  ] 


INTRODUCTION 


kill  her.    There  is  a  long  pause.    Then  the  play 
closes  thus: 

"L'Amiral,  au  porte-voix. 
Faites  ouvrir  le  feu! 

Une  Voix  au  dehors. 
Ouvrez  le  feu! 

Une  Autre  Voix. 
Feu! 

(Detonation  puissante)." 
In  1903  "Le  Droit  des  Vierges"  was  produced  in 
Geneva  and  published  in  Paris.  The  play  is  a  protest 
against  parent-made  marriages.  It  has  obvious  re- 
lations with  "Un  Gant"  of  Bjornson  and  "Les  Trois 
Filles  de  M.  Dupont"  of  M.  Brieux.  The  ambitious 
Brousseau  and  the  wife  he  dominates  are  making 
preparations  for  the  marriage  of  their  daughter, 
Simonne,  to  Stephane  de  Senlis,  a  leader  in  the 
world  of  fashion  and  a  very  successful  author  of 
erotic,  not  to  say  decadent,  novels.  Simonne,  who 
does  not  love  De  Senlis,  has  forebodings  about 
the  marriage.  Possessing  herself  of  one  of  his  books, 
"L  'Invitation,"  she  finds  in  it  evidence  that  her 
marriage  is  to  be  for  the  author  but  one  more  ex- 
periment in  sex.  Her  vindication  of  her  right  to 
her  own  person  and  soul  makes  the  crisis  of  the 
[ix] 


INTRODUCTION 


play.     Both  these  pieces  may  be  regarded  as  prom- 
ising but  tyro  work. 

The  dramatist  of  large  accomplishment  first  re- 
vealed himself  when  "Les  Ames  Ennemies"  was 
produced  at  the  Theatre  Antoine,  May  15,  1907, 
dedicated  "To  those  who  believe  passionately,  to 
those  who  deny  with  energy,  to  those  who  investigate 
loyally."  It  is  the  first  of  three  plays  intended  by 
the  author  to  study  as  many  aspects  of  the  tragedy 
of  those  to-day  who  honestly  and  high  mindedly 
would  live  without  conventional  religion.  "Les 
Ames  Ennemies"  treats  such  a  struggle  from  an  in- 
tellectual point  of  view;  "L'Apotre"  from  a  moral 
point  of  view;  the  third  play  will  present  the  social 
aspect.  Daniel  Servan,  scientist,  the  central  figure 
in  "Les  Ames  Ennemies,"  returns  after  two  years 
in  Java,  famous  because  of  his  discovery  of  the 
pithecantropus  erectus,  a  skeleton  which  he  believes 
the  missing  link  between  man  and  monkey.  In  his 
absence  his  Breton  mother-in-law,  fearing  his  frank 
radicalism,  has,  with  the  connivance  of  Servan's  wife, 
been  giving  the  granddaughter,  Florence,  the  strict- 
est training  as  a  Roman  Catholic.  Servan  finds  the 
delicate,  sensitive  child  absorbed  in  devotional  ob- 
servances, and  talking  of  entering  a  convent.  Deeply 
[x] 


INTRODUCTION 


annoyed,  he  insists  that  the  child  shall  at  least  hear 
both  sides.  The  mother-in-law  promptly  leaves  the 
house.  The  wife,  torn  between  love  for  her  husband 
and  for  her  religion,  asks  the  confessor  of  Florence  to 
intervene.  This  provokes  a  quarrel  between  husband 
and  wife  which  the  child  overhears.  Madeleine, 
fearing  for  her  own  soul  and  that  of  her  child,  wishes 
to  leave  the  house,  taking  Florence  with  her.  Servan 
will  not  permit  this.  Even  as  the  parents  contend 
for  her,  the  overwrought  child  falls  fainting  at  their 
feet.  In  the  last  act  she  is  hovering  between  life 
and  death.  In  a  heartrending  scene  she  tells  the 
adoring  Servan  that  his  example  and  his  words  have 
undermined  her  old  beliefs,  that  she,  too,  has  no  God. 
Dying  she  pleads  for  reconciliation  between  the 
parents.  They  yield;  but  even  as  the  child  breathes 
her  last,  the  wife  leaves  the  father  standing  alone  at 
the  foot  of  the  bed,  and  turns  to  the  entering  priest 
with  the  cry, 

"Ah!  mon  pere!  mon  pere!  .  .  ." 
Critics  differed  widely  in  their  estimate  of  the  play 
according  to  their  conservative  or  radical  bent. 
Favorable  and  unfavorable  comment  alike,  however, 
showed  that  the  play  by  its  reality  of  characteriza- 
tion, its  thoughtfulness,  its  outspokenness,  its  firm 
[xi] 


INTRODUCTION 


grasp  on  certain  highly  dramatic  moments,  stirred 
all  hearers  deeply.  In  Belgium,  Switzerland,  and 
Italy  it  had  decided  success.  In  this  country  it  has 
had  a  private  performance  by  the  students  of  the 
Academy  of  Dramatic  Arts  in  New  York.  Were  the 
interests  of  our  theatre-goers  as  broad  as  the  founders 
of  the  Drama  League  hope  to  make  them,  we  should, 
before  this,  have  seen  "Les  Ames  Ennemies"  on  our 
professional  stage.  We  are  told,  however,  that  our 
public  would  not  care  for  this  play  because  religious 
differences  between  parents  are  fortunately  too  rare 
in  this  country  to  be  of  general  interest.  Such  pro- 
vincialism is  the  reason  why  we  see  so  few  foreign 
dramatic  masterpieces.  Though  we  have  learned  to 
travel,  we  have  not  yet  as  a  nation  acquired  the  in- 
tellectual sympathy  which  makes  us  eager  to  know 
the  emotional  experiences  of  others  even  when  these 
experiences  have  not  been  and  may  never  be  our  own. 
The  day  of  Bowdlerizing  great  foreign  plays  because 
we  are  so  much  more  moral  than  our  neighbors  is  well- 
nigh  over.  Nor  do  we  as  frequently  as  in  the  past 
insist  that  these  foreign  plays  shall  be  adapted  to  fit 
American  conditions,  thus  twisting  them,  often,  out 
of  all  semblance  to  the  original.  However,  till  as  a 
people  we  can  enjoy  plays  unchanged,  which  do  not 
fxiil 


INTRODUCTION 


reflect  us  as  in  a  mirror,  we  can  in  no  proper  sense 
call  ourselves  real  lovers  of  drama. 

"L'Apotre"  had  its  first  representation  May  3, 
1911,  at  the  Odeon,  Paris.  With  Silvaine  and  Mme. 
Silvaine  of  the  Comedie  Francaise  as  Baudouin  and 
Clotilde,  it  made  a  strong  impression  on  press  and 
public.  Like  "Les  Ames  Ennemies"  it  was  well  re- 
ceived elsewhere  in  Europe. 

Evidently  M.  Loyson  does  not  belong  to  the 
dramatists  of  entertainment,  such  as  Sardou,  nor  to 
the  jugglers  of  the  old  situation  a,  trois,  who  for  a 
generation  have  supplied  "  L'  Illustration  Theatrale" 
with  old  material  made  to  seem  new  by  illuminating 
characterization,  audacious  frankness,  or  a  delicate 
feeling  for  phrase.  He  is  of  the  line  of  Dumas  fits 
and  Brieux,  the  men  who,  thinking  fearlessly  of 
weaknesses  in  the  national  life,  state  without  fear  or 
favor  what  they  see  and  what  they  believe.  Such 
men  are,  of  course,  misunderstood.  It  was  the  fate  of 
Dumas  fits;  it  has  been  the  fate  of  Brieux;  it  is  the 
fate  of  M.  Loyson. 

Both  "Les  Ames  Ennemies"  and  "L'Apotre" 
have  been  hailed  as  thesis  plays.  The  author,  in 
writing  of  the  first  play,  protested  against  this,  say- 
ing, "A  considerable  portion  of  the  general  public  has 
[  xiii  ] 


INTRODUCTION 


wished  to  see  in  a  play  of  ideas  a  thesis  play.  .  .  . 
If  such  had  been  my  intention,  I  should  never  have 
endowed  my  hero  with  certain  ideas  which  are  not 
mine  at  all,  as  for  instance  his  atheism,  so  unqualified 
and  unyielding  that  it  makes  him  resemble  closely  a 
number  of  real  and  illustrious  scientists  of  the  nine- 
teenth century;  I  should  never  have  shown  him,  in  the 
third  act,  dumb  as  he  faces  the  enigma  of  life;  nor  in 
the  last  act  distracted  as  he  faces  the  enigma  of 
death."  That  is,  M.  Loyson  does  not  write  to  offer 
a  solution.  Like  the  safe  scientist,  he  states  what  he 
sees;  he  does  not  risk  conclusions  which  might  be  dan- 
gerous to  humanity  in  general  because  based  on  the 
few  individual  cases  with  which  the  drama  must 
always  work.  As  a  genuine  dramatist  he  does  not 
preach,  but  moves  us  deeply  by  pictures  of  living 
men  and  women  struggling  with  some  of  the  vast 
problems  of  the  day.  Naturally  he  protested  also 
when  critics  and  even  some  of  his  enthusiastic  friends 
declared  "Les  Ames  Ennemies"  to  be  a  representa- 
tion of  the  present-day  conflict  between  science  and 
religion.  The  controversy  led  to  the  publication  of 
a  brochure,  "La  Critique  des  Ames  Ennemies,"  a 
collection  of  letters  and  critical  notices;  and  an  essay 
defending  M.  Loyson,  "A  Propos  des  Ames  Enne- 
[xiv] 


INTRODUCTION 


mies,"  by  M.  Bornand,  a  clergyman.  The  upshot  of 
the  two  publications  is  that  M.  Servan  is  scientific 
only  in  his  discovery  of  the  pithecantropus  erectus. 
His  thinking  as  to  religion  does  not  represent  all 
scientists,  but  is  individual.  The  opposing  religious 
view  is  not  that  of  religion  in  general  but  of  the  more 
rigid  type  of  Catholicism .  In  other  words,  M .  Loy son 
sees  agnosticism  and  atheism  around  him.  He  sees 
the  bigoted  type  of  Catholic.  He  sees  the  woman, 
who,  though  rigidly  trained,  is  yet  temporarily  drawn 
aside  by  affection,  only  to  return  instinctively,  in  a 
crisis,  to  her  original  training.  He  tells  a  story  of 
these  three  types — in  the  Breton  grandmother;  Made- 
leine, the  wife;  and  Servan,  the  husband.  He  does 
not  say  that  any  one  of  the  three  is  right  or  wrong. 
He  merely  illustrates  the  utter  misery  religious  dis- 
sention  in  the  family  may  bring  father,  mother,  and, 
above  all,  child. 

It  has  been  said  that  "L'Apotre"  illustrates  the 
cruel  injustice  done  a  child  who  is  brought  up  without 
religious  faith.  "Surely,"  it  is  urged,  "the  great 
speech  of  Eugenia  in  the  last  act  can  mean  only  this." 
Not  at  all.  M.  Loyson  does  not  hold  a  brief  for  any 
one  idea  or  figure.  His  sympathies  are  with  the 
mother,  the  wife,  the  poor  little  secretary,  Remillot, 
fxvl 


INTRODUCTION 


and  Baudouin  himself.  What  he  does  imply  is  three- 
fold. He  who  comes  to  free  thought  compelled  by  his 
own  nature  may  be  able  to  follow  it  safely  as  guide. 
That  is  Baudouin.  Whoever  throws  aside  religion, 
not  compelled  by  the  force  of  his  own  thinking  but 
because  of  affection  for  another,  is  in  any  great  crisis 
nearly  sure  to  turn  back  instinctively  to  old  beliefs. 
That  is  Eugenie.  He  who  foregoes  religion  un- 
thinkingly, not  moved  by  deep  affection,  but  because 
he  has  never  known  it,  is  likely  to  mistake  his  inheri- 
tance for  license.     That  is  Octave. 

It  is  certainly  striking  that  M.  Loyson  in  both  his 
recent  plays  writes  tragedies  resulting  from  the 
agnosticism  or  atheism  of  his  heroes.  It  is  his  own 
early  experience  which  colors  his  work.  His  father, 
Pere  Hyacinthe,  coming  out  of  the  Church  of  Rome 
when  his  ideas  no  longer  made  it  possible  for  him  to 
stay  in  it,  became  a  leader  in  French  advanced  relig- 
ious thought.  He  married  an  American  of  Puritan 
stock.  Their  son,  Paul,  grew  up  amidst  advanced 
but  high-minded  thinking  on  religious  matters.  He 
saw  what  his  father  had  to  undergo  because  of  his 
change  in  belief.  Naturally  the  people  who  gathered 
about  such  a  leader  as  Pere  Hyacinthe  gave  the 
son  opportunities  to  watch  many  tragedies  growing 
[xvij 


INTRODUCTION 


out  of  differences  in  religious  belief  or  failure  to 
accept  religion.  Fiction  and  poetry  are  filled  with 
the  idea  that  most  men  look  back  upon  their  child- 
hood as  a  time  of  happy  memory,  but  many  a  man  in 
middle  life,  as  the  subjects  of  the  recent  plays  of  M. 
Loyson  show,  still  feels  the  shadows  from  stern  scenes 
of  his  childhood. 

Technically  the  two  significant  plays  of  M.  Loyson 
are  not  faultless,  but  such  weaknesses  are  bound 
to  disappear  the  more  he  writes.  On  the  other  hand, 
he  has  great  power  of  characterization  and  remark- 
able skill  in  writing  scenes  that  will  not  out  of  the 
memory.  In  "  L  'Evangile  du  Sang,"  Admiral  Mans- 
field reads  the  morning  service  to  his  men  just  at 
daybreak.  His  wife,  listening  from  the  cabin,  cries 
out  in  horror  at  what  seems  to  her  the  blasphemy  of 
the  calm  assumption  of  commander  and  men  that  the 
Lord  is  with  them  in  their  slaying  of  other  human 
beings.  Like  an  obligato  sound  the  words  of  the 
sanguinary  passage  from  the  Bible,  as,  indignant, 
protesting,  Jane  repeats  the  gentle,  merciful  words  of 
the  Lord's  Prayer.  In  "Le  Droit  des  Vierges"  there 
is  a  remarkably  fresh  and  moving  treatment  of  the 
old  subject — a  nurse  of  many  years'  standing  parting 
with  the  woman  on  the  eve  of  marriage  who  seems  to 
[  xvii  ] 


INTRODUCTION 


her  still  but  a  child.  In  "  Les  Ames  Ennemies  "  there 
is  rare  power  in  the  scene  when  Servan  instinctively 
recoils  at  his  own  work  as  Florence  tells  him  that 
his  teachings  have  left  her  no  God.  In  "L'Apotre" 
is  it  possible  to  read  dry  eyed  the  scene  in  which 
Baudouin  and  Eugenie,  agonized  by  the  thought  of 
what  their  son  has  become,  discuss,  dispute,  and  just 
when  a  quarrel  seems  imminent,  fall  weeping  into  each 
other's  arms? 

Perhaps  the  most  marked  characteristic  of  M. 
Loyson  is  what  French  critics  have  called  his  elo- 
quence. They  do  not  mean  the  facile  use  of  catch 
phrases  to  stir  our  emotions  nor  even  rich  and  happy 
phrase  for  its  own  sake.  They  do  mean  that  here  is  a 
man  in  whom  thought  and  emotion  combine  so  per- 
fectly that  as  he  thinks  deeply  on  high  things,  stirred 
profoundly  by  his  thinking,  he  finds  words  so  apt 
that  they  stir  us  deeply  on  unaccustomed  themes. 
Reading  his  plays  rightly,  we  come  away  sober, 
even  sad,  but  somehow  strengthened.  After  all,  in 
"  Les  Ames  Ennemies  "  the  child  Florence  dies  crying, 
"  I  am  not  afraid — there  is  light " ;  and  in  "  L  'Ap6tre  " 
Baudouin  does  the  utmost  that  Christianity  has 
taught  us  to  do,  sacrifices  all  for  an  ideal.  Un- 
doubtedly M.  Loyson  has  been  sounding  certain 
[  xviii  ] 


INTRODUCTION 


depths  of  modern  emotional  experience,  but  he  knows 
well  that  often  a  depth  is  but  the  measure  of  an  un- 
seen height. 

Since  the  war  began  M.  Loyson  has  been  serving 
his  government  wherever  a  specially  skilled  interpre- 
ter has  been  needed.  His  home  in  the  Rue  du  Bac, 
under  the  guidance  of  Mme.  Loyson,  is  now  a  hospital 
for  convalescent  but  hopelessly  maimed  soldiers  where 
they  are  kept  till  feasible  work  be  found  for  these 
men  whose  scars  forbid  their  returning  to  their  accus- 
tomed labors.  Until  the  war  is  ended  there  can  be  for 
M.  Loyson  no  thought  of  his  beloved  art.  Surely, 
however,  when  peace  comes  again,  all  that  this  sym- 
pathetic, thoughtful,  fearless  observer  of  his  fellows 
has  seen  and  felt  in  this  time  of  cataclysm  must  have 
its  fruit  in  plays  of  great  significance. 

Geo.  P.  Baker. 

Boulder  Farm, 

Madison,  N.  H. 


[xix] 


DRAMATIS  PERSONS 

Baudouin,  a  Senator;  later,  Minister  of  Public  Instruction 

Arnaut,  Speaker  of  the  Chamber  of  Deputies 

Octave  Baudouin,  a  Deputy 

Puylaroche,  a  Solicitor 

Ferrand,  Senator;  later,  Prime  Minister 

Michu,  on  the  "Avant  Garde" 

Galimard,  a  Deputy 

Roquin,  a  Deputy 

Pratt.  Secretary  of  the  Interior  of  the  Cabinet  from  which 
he  has  just  resigned 

Latouche,  Baudouin's  Secretary 

Meterheim,  a  Banker 

Duval-Porcheret,  President  of  one  of  the  electoral  com- 
mittees 

A  Servant 

Clotilde,  Wife  of  the  Younger  Baudouin 

Eugenie,  Wife  of  Henri  Baudouin 

The  Children  of  the  Younger  Baudouin  and  Clotilde 

A  Maid 

Senators,  Deputies,  Delegates,  etc. 


SLtt  J. 


ACT  I 

An  office  the  appearance  of  which  immediately  pro- 
claims it  as  distinctly  middle-class.  Tliere  is  a  dis- 
orderliness  which  might  well  be  the  result  of  the 
carelessness  of  a  bachelor.  The  desk  is  covered  with 
papers  of  various  kinds,  some  of  which  have  fallen  to 
the  floor.  The  well-worn  carpet  is  strewn  with  crum- 
pled newspapers.  The  compartments  of  the  book- 
case, which  is  an  open  one,  are  filled  with  unbound 
volumes,  well  used,  and  piled  pell-mell  with  no 
regard  to  order  or  neatness.  On  the  walls  are  pic- 
tures of  Gambetta,  Thiers,  and  the  "  Taking  of  the 
Bastille."  On  the  mantel  above  the  fireplace  is  an 
empty  shell,  a  relic  of  the  Siege.  Through  the  window 
is  a  panorama  of  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  at  Paris. 
Above  the  roofs  and  chimneys  is  distinguished  the 
cupola  of  the  "Observatoire."  To  the  left  is  a  door 
leading  to  the  antechamber;  to  the  right,  that  leading 
to  the  living-rooms. 

As  the  curtain  rises,   Baudouin   is  seated   at 
[3] 


Act  1  THE  APOSTLE 


his  desk,  a  skullcap  on  his  head  and  a  pipe  in 
his  moidh.  From  time  to  time  he  stops  writing, 
blows  a  puff  of  smoke  into  the  air,  and  reads  a 
sentence.  Eugenie  discreetly  opens  the  door  to  the 
left,  and  hesitates  a  moment  before  interrupting 
Baudouin. 

Eugenie.  Baudouin?  [He  gives  vent  to  a  little 
grunt.]     Time  for  the  paper:     Michu  is  here. 

Baudouin.     Tell  him  to  come  in. 

[Eugenie    introduces  Michu   and  goes  out. 

Michu.     I'm  sorry,  boss,  I'm  early 

Baudouin  [continuing  his  writing].     Wait. 

Michu  [after  a  pause — in  an  undertone].  Yes,  I 
am,  I'm  three  minutes  ahead  of  time.  There's  going 
to  be  an  exciting  session  in  the  Chamber  to-morrow — 
make  no  mistake  about  that! — and  when  the  Re- 
public is  going  through  what  she  is  these  here  days, 
we  on  the  paper  would  rather  go  without  our  drinks 
than  not  get  your  copy.  Don't  let  me  disturb  you, 
though!     [There  is  another  pause.] 

Baudouin  [signing  his  article].     I  was  late,  Michu. 

[He  passes  the  blotter  over  the  last  page.]     There  you 

are.     [Handing   Michu   the  manuscript.]     Take   it. 

It'll  never  go  into  two  columns,  and  you'll  have  a 

[4] 


ITHE  APOSTLE  Ad  1 


hard  time  cutting  it [He  takes  off  his  skullcap 

and  throws  it  onto  the  table.] 

Michu.  Well  see  you  get  all  the  place  you  want; 
you're  the  boss!  We'll  put  the  news  on  the  second 
page 

Baudouin.    Who  does  the  leader  to-morrow? 

Michu  [disdainfully].  Little  Remillot — we  got  the 
copy  this  morning. 

Baudouin.  I  shan't  allow  you  to  do  that.  Tell 
Savinet  to  let  the  leader  go  in  its  usual  place.  Re- 
millot's  stuff  is  as  good  as  mine. 

Michu.  Nonsense!  These  young  fellows,  they 
want  to  save  the  Republic  and  they  never  even 
helped  make  the  Commune! 

Baudouin.  Well,  Michu,  neither  did  I!  Let's 
keep  straight  on  that  point. 

Michu  [pointing  to  the  shell  on  the  mantel].  Ask 
him  if  he  collects  vegetables  of  that  kind ! 

Baudouin.  That's  different — that  came  from  the 
Siege.  Ask  them  to  set  my  article  in  small  type  and 
take  out  the  leads.  I  refuse  to  have  the  younger 
men  make  way  for  me.     See  you  to-morrow,  old  man. 

Michu.  Boss,  you'll  always  be  "Father  Con- 
science." They  ought  to  put  up  a  bust  of  you  in  the 
Palais  de  Justice! 

[5] 


Act  I  THE  APOSTLE 


Baudouin.  Michu,  my  friend,  I've  told  you  I 
don't  like  that  nickname.  Do  you  want  me  to  get 
angry? 

Michu.  Look  here  now,  can't  I  defend  you  now 
that  the  Clericals  are  down  on  you?  Have  you  seen 
La  Croix  this  morning? 

Baudouin  [with  indifference].  No,  what  does  it 
say?  [He  looks  for  "La  Croix"  amid  the  heap  of  news- 
papers.] 

Michu.  They  know  very  well  that  it's  you  who've 
kept  the  cures  shut  out,  and  how  you've  forgotten  to 
leave  the  key  under  the  doormat. 

Baudouin  [still  looking  for  the  paper].  I  get  all  the 
papers — everything  is  so  upside  down  here 

Michu.     Want  me  to  help  you  arrange  things? 

Baudouin.  Hm,  will  you?  There  you  are  talk- 
ing like  Madame  Baudouin.  I'd  never  find  anything 
then! 

Michu.  Come  now,  boss,  give  me  the  word ;  that's 
what  the  people  are  making  such  a  fuss  about! 
You're  not  proud,  the  Republic  has  made  a  leader  of 
you;  you're  a  senator,  and  people  come  in  here  and 
make  themselves  quite  at  home. 

Baudouin.     Thanks,  Michu,  you're  most  kind. 
Well,  I'll  see  you  to-morrow. 
[6] 


THE  APOSTLE  Ad  1 


Michu  [about  to  go,  looking  at  the  manuscript]. 
Begging  your  pardon,  you've  forgot  the  title. 

Baudouin  [returning  to  his  desk  with  the  manu- 
script]. Well,  well,  I  didn't  know  you  could  read! 
[Pen  in  hand,  he  sits  trying  to  think  of  a  title.] 

Michu.  I'm  studying  at  night  school.  One 
morning  I  says  to  myself :  "The  devil!  Things  are 
happening  to  the  Republic  and  you  ain't  any  more 
advanced  than  you  was  under  the  Empire!" 

[Baudouin  strikes  out  the  title  he  has  just  set 
down.] 
Why,  it's  the  strangest  thing  that's  happened  to  me 
— the  words  make  a  noise  on  paper  like  when  you 
speak  'em — now  I'm  beginning  to  know  the  words — 
it's  like  reading  with  your  ears — and  when  I  take  up 

a  paper,  look [He  takes  up  a  paper  in  order  to 

demonstrate.]    Why,  it's  like  a  crowd  talking  all  at 
once! 

Baudouin  [again  striking  out  a  title].  It  won't 
come!  [Rising  and  going  to  Michu.]  How  would 
you  phrase  this,  Michu:  "The  Church  claims  the 
right  to  instruct  the  people  in  order  to  prevent  their 
learning  to  read." 

Michu.  That's  true  enough.  Like  Tartuf  e  teach- 
ing  school! 

m 


Ad  I  THE  APOSTLE 


Baudouin.  "Tartufe  the  Schoolmaster!"  Per- 
fect! Do  they  teach  you  to  write  at  your  night 
school?     Can  you  write? 

Michu  [describing  vast  circles  in  the  air].     Look! 

Baudouin  [jokingly].  Sit  there,  in  my  place — 
write — just  what  you  told  me 

Michu  [awed].     No,  boss,  you're  fooling! 

Baudouin.  Did  you  hear  what  I  said?  Sit 
down ! 

Michu  [going  toward  tJie  table].  Well,  Michu,  if 
some  one'd  told  you [He  sits  down.] 

Baudouin.  There,  right  under  your  nose,  is 
the  pen — inkstand  to  the  right.  Ready?  Are 
you? 

Michu  [dipping  the  pen  in  the  ink].  Well,  well, 
Michu 

Baudouin  [dictating,  as  he  lights  his  pipe].  "Tar- 
tufe  " 

Michu.     Oh,  there  goes  a  blot! 

Baudouin.  That  makes  no  difference,  that'll  l>e 
your  signature.  "The — Schoolmaster."  Sc-h-o-o-1- 
m-a-s-t-e-r.  There,  people,  it's  the  Republic  that's 
given  you  a  scrubbing!     [He  puffs  his  pipe.] 

Michu.  There,  boss,  you  are  a  funny  man.  I 
tell  you  I'm  mighty  proud  of  that.  [He  rises  and 
[8] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  I 


hands  the  manuscript  timidly  to  Baudouin,  who  reads 
and  makes  a  pencil  correction.]  Are  there  two  f's  to 
Tartufe? 

Baudouin.    Three,  if  you  like. 

Michu.  That's  right,  we'll  give  'em  a  he —  a 
devil  of  a  lot  of  f's !  By  God,  this  is  the  happiest  day 
of  my  life  since  the  Fourth  of  September! 

Baudouin.     The  Fourth  of  September? 

Michu.  You  know,  I'll  never  forget  that.  It 
was  thirty-eight  years  ago  I  met  you  for  the  first 
time  by  the  tribune  of  the  Palais-Bourbon! 

Baudouin.    That's  so 

Michu.  Lord,  what  excitement!  The  Empire  on 
the  ground  and  the  people  on  top.  Crowds  every- 
where: on  the  railings  and  the  cornices — why,  the 
walls  was  one  living  mass  of  heads.  And  what  en- 
thusiasm! I  was  hot  all  over.  Then,  all  at  once 
you  came  with  your  father.  "The  Two  Baudouins, 
proscripts  of  the  Empire."  Ha,  you  was  both  lifted 
up  by  the  crowd.  I  was  only  a  little  kid,  I  didn't 
know  you,  but  I  wanted  to  do  my  share,  and  I  wrig- 
gled my  way  through  the  mass  and  touched  you — I 
caught  hold  of  your  leg — is  that  the  one  there?  You 
know,  I  got  that  leg  next  to  my  heart — it's  there 
always! 

[9] 


Act  1  THE  APOSTLE 


Baudouin  [suddenly].  What  is  the  Republic, 
Michu? 

Michu.  The  Republic?  It's  when  the  people 
are  right  and  the  others  are  wrong! 

Baudouin.  Not  quite,  but  there's  little  difference. 
The  Republic  stands  for  reason;  we  must  not  allow 
ourselves  to  relinquish  that  principle. 

Michu.    Long  live  the  Republic,  boss! 

Baudouin  [offering  his  hand  to  Michu].  Long  live 
the  Republic,  Michu. 

[Michu,  deeply  touched,  wrings  Baudouin 's 
hand  and  goes  out.] 

Eugenie  [entering  from  the  right,  carrying  an  over- 
coat, a  hat,  a  cane,  and  a  pair  of  boots].  Don't  worry, 
you're  not  going  to  the  Senate,  you're  going  to  take  a 
little  walk.  Poor  Baudouin,  what  a  life  you  lead;  if 
I  didn't  look  after  your  health,  the  way  you  work 
and  slave  your  life  out 

Baudouin.  Don't  worry,  we  manage  to  have 
enough  bread  and  butter 


Eugenie.    Here,  your  shoes 

Baudouin.  Thank  you,  Mother.  [He  sits  down 
and  changes  his  shoes.]  I'll  walk  around  to  the 
Chamber  and  see  what  they're  doing.  They  must 
be  on  Article  7. 

[10] 


THE  APOSTLE  ict  I 


Eugenie  [quickly].  Octave  doesn't  speak  to-day, 
does  he? 

Baudouin.  The  son  speaks  to-morrow;  you'll  be 
there,  Mother,  in  the  front  box. 

Eugenie.  Well,  if  it  isn't  till  to-morrow,  I'm  not 
going  to  have  you  asphyxiate  yourself  in  that  stable. 
It's  enough  to  be  condemned  to  go  there  three 
times  a  week.  What  you  need  is  air,  fresh  air.  Now 
do  take  a  stroll  to  Passy;  go  and  see  your  grand- 
children  

Baudouin.  It  sounds  tempting,  I  admit.  We 
don't  see  them  any  more  now  during  this  infernal 
session 

Eugenie.    Then  go — do. 

Baudouin.  What  can  I  do?  This  law  on  lay 
education  is  something  of  a  family  matter  for  us 

Eugenie.  Indeed  it  is — she's  a  daughter  who  will 
end  by  killing  her  father. 

[There  is  a  knock  at  the  door.] 
Come  in. 

The  Maid  [entering  with  a  packet  of  letters  and  a 
pile  of  newspapers].     The  mail,  Monsieur. 

Eugenie  [inspecting  the  overcoat  which  Baudouin 
has  put  on].    But  you're  not  going  out  like  that? 

Baudouin.    What's  the  trouble? 
[11] 


Act  I  THE  APOSTLE 


Eugenie.  Look  at  this  huge  mud  spot.  [  To  the 
Maid.]  Do  you  mean  to  say  you  have  brushed  this 
coat? 

Baudouin.  Never  mind,  Eugenie.  It's  been 
raining  this  morning,  and  people  will  imagine  it's 
from  that. 

Eugenie  [scandalized].    The  idea!     I  never  heard 

of Take  it  off,  quick — don't  argue!    I'll  give 

you  your  papers — hand  me  the  coat 

Baudouin  [allowing  Eugenie  to  take  off  his  coat]. 
How  troublesome  to  have  a  neat  woman  about  the 
house! 

Eugenie  [handing  the  coat  to  the  Maid].  Hurry  up 
about  it!  [The  Maid  goes  out. 

Baudouin.  Let's  see  the  mail.  [Reading  the 
addresses.]  "Monsieur  Baudouin,"  "Monsieur 
Baudouin,"  "Monsieur  Baudouin,"  "Madame  Bau- 
douin"     That's  queer — La  Croix  is  addressed 

to  you ! 

Eugenie.    To   me? 

Baudouin.  "Madame  Baudouin,  126  Boulevard 
Arago "     [Jokingly.]     Are  you  a  subscriber? 

Eugenie.     Why !    [She  takes  the  paper,  breaks 

the  band,  and  unfolds  it.]     What  does  it  mean? 

Baudouin.  That's  so — Michu  warned  me — what 
[12] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  I 


good  soul  has  taken  it  into  his  head  to  do  you  the 
favor? 

Eugenie.  But  it's  about  you.  Look  at  the 
picture!  And  all  these  lines  marked  with  a  blue 
pencil!  [Reading  in  an  undertone;  then.]  The  low 
scoundrels!  This  is  really  infamous!  You  must 
sue  them! 

Baudouin.    Well,  well,  well,  well! 

Eugenie.    Don't   laugh,   please!    You   are   too 

patient,  too  generous.     I  can't  stand  this — I — I 

[She  sinks  into  a  chair  and  continues  to  read.] 

Baudouin.  I  see,  my  dear,  I  see.  We  must  look 
into  this.  [He  takes  the  paper  from  her.]  Let  us  see 
the  cartoon:  "The  Ruffians'  School."  Not  bad. 
The  artist  is  improving. 

Eugenie  [taking  back  the  paper].  Don't  you  un- 
derstand? See  that  leader  of  the  gallows'  gang  giving 
a  lesson  to  those  little  urchins — it's  you,  Baudouin! 

Baudouin.    So  it  seems Do  I  frighten  you? 

Eugenie.  No — you  mustn't  talk  like  that — it 
hurts  me  to  hear  you  joke  about  it.  Read  the  article, 
if  you  don't  believe  me.  They  accuse  the  Republi- 
can schools  of  educating  "  a  nation  of  savages,"  and 
say  that  you  "have  given  an  example"  in  the  "edu- 
cation of  your  son." 

[13] 


Act  I  THE  APOSTLE 


Baudouin.  What?  Is  that  all?  Am  I  not 
accused  of  murder? 

Eugenie.  My  little  Octave,  the  best  boy  who 
ever  lived!  Tell  me,  isn't  he?  Have  we  educated 
him  like  a  little  savage?  How  can  those  people  at- 
tack him  ? 

Baudouin.  Because  he  is  a  deputy.  Are  you 
surprised  at  that?  Because  he  is  going  to  make  a 
speech  to-morrow  that  will  be  their  deathblow. 
Do  you  expect  the  Church  to  thank  him? 

Eugenie.  I  say  it's  infamous,  outrageous.  You 
won't  read  it.  You  always  think  your  own  thoughts, 
and  never  pay  attention  to  what  others  are  saying. 
There  is  even  a  direct  allusion  to  me — "Godless 
mothers  " — "  Renegades  " 

Baudouin.    Show  me 

Eugenie  [showing  him  the  passage].  Just  at  the 
end — the  last  lines.     And  it's  signed  by  an  abbe! 

Baudouin.  Is  that  what  offended  you?  Look 
at  me,  does  the  word  renegade  offend  you? 

Eugenie.  No,  I  promise  you  it  doesn't!  I 
should  leave  the  Church  again  if  I  had  to,  and  say, 
"Yes,  my  husband  converted  me!  I  am  a  free- 
thinker! Show  me  your  children  educated  by  the 
Jesuits  and  compare  them  with  Octave!" 
[14] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  1 


Baudouin.  Very  well,  then!  [Crumpling  up  the 
paper  and  throwing  it  to  the  floor.]  Give  this  to 
Justine  with  the  rest  of  the  waste  paper.  You  have 
gone  through  forty  years  of  struggles  with  me,  and 
it  seems  you  haven't  yet  fortified  yourself  against 
these  attacks!  I  shall  have  to  buy  a  steel-ribbed 
corset  for  you,  Mother! 

Eugenie.  Let  me  tell  you  that  this  politics  is 
disgusting.  What  good  will  it  do  you  to  sweat  out 
your  life's  blood  for  your  principles?  Axe  you  a 
Minister  yet?  You're  not  even  a  retired  Minister 
like  your  old  friends,  who  don't  count  for  anything 
now. 

Baudouin.  Perhaps  that  is  the  reason  why  I  do 
count  for  something  now 

Eugenie.  You  made  no  efforts;  that  was  all  very 
well — I  agree  with  you,  but  what  is  the  good  in  being 
as  poor  now  as  you  were  under  the  Empire  when 
you  gave  private  lessons  in  London?  And  here  we 
are  living  up  five  flights,  and  you  give  half  your 
income  to  the  cause.  Why,  people  don't  even 
give  you  credit  for  being  honest  any  more.  You 
never  get  the  credit  and  you  always  get  the 
blows. 

Baudouin.  There  is  one  thing  better  than  being 
f  15  1 


Act  I  THE  APOSTLE 


Minister,  and  that  is  to  be  able  to  say  that  I  have 
refused.  Do  you  know  why?  Because  of  my  son! 
I  said  to  myself:  "Baudouin,  you  must  remain  the 
pioneer  who  has  fought  his  way  through  the  desert, 
in  order  that  your  son  may  arrive  in  the  Promised 
Land."  And  my  reward  is  in  finding  that  I  was 
right — not  quite  that,  but  having  the  right  to  say,  "  I 
have  always  been  right!  J  have  believed  in  a  Re- 
public run  by  the  people,  in  Republican  schools  and 
Republican  morality,  and  I  know  that  these  have 
come  into  being  partly  through  my  help !  I  have  al- 
ways been  right ! "  You  can  have  no  idea  what  joy  I 
feel  in  being  able  to  think  that! 

Eugenie.     You  are  so  wonderful  that  you  always 
carry  me  away  with  your  enthusiasm! 

The    Maid    [returning    with    the    overcoat].     I've 
cleaned  it  thoroughly,  Madame. 

Eugenie.     Good.     In  the  future  try  to  do  it  well 
the  first  time. 

[A  bell  rings  near  the  door  leading  into  the  ante- 
chamber.] 

Baudouin.    A  visitor — I'll  escape  through  the 
dining-room. 

The  Maid.    I  believe  it  is  Madame  Octave;  I  saw 
her  coming  upstairs. 

[16] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  I 


Eugenie.    Open  the  door. 

[The  Maid  goes  out. 
Baudouin.    I  do  hope  it's  Clotilde,  the  dear  child ! 
[Eugenie  goes  to  the  door  to  meet  Clotilde, 
who  enters  precipitately.    She  wears  an  ele- 
gant walking  suit  and  carries  a  leather  port- 
folio under  her  arm.] 

Clotilde.    Hello,  Grandmother 

Eugenie.     You  are  in  a  hurry.     Aren't  you  going 
to  kiss  me? 

[Clotilde  gives  her  a  hurried  kiss.] 
Baudouin.     And  what  about  me? 
Clotilde.    Hello,  Grandfather.     [She  kisses  him 
as  she  did  Eugenie.]     Don't  you  know  the  news? 
Octave's  secretary  has  disappeared! 
Eugenie.     Little  Remillot? 
Baudouin.    Disappeared? 
Clotilde.    Yes,  this  morning — he  didn't  come  as 

usual,  and  he's  never  late  a  minute,  so 

Baudouin  [looking  at  his  watch].     Have  you  seen 
him  at  all  during  the  day? 

Clotilde.     No 

Baudouin.     Extraordinary.     He    is    most   exact 
and  punctual.     He's  just  written  his  article  to  the 

Avant  Garde — he  must  be  sick 

[17] 


Act  I  THE  APOSTLE 


Clotilde.  He's  not  at  home.  Octave  and  I 
went  to  see  him.  The  concierge  told  us  he  hadn't 
come  in  the  night  before 

Baudouin.     She  might  have  been  mistaken. 

Clotilde.  No:  she  had  his  key,  and  we  went  to 
his  rooms.     His  own  was  empty 

Eugenie.    Well,  well! 

Baudouin.  Very  strange.  If  we  weren't  talking 
about  Remillot,  I  should  say  the  man  had  gone  on  a 
spree. 

Clotilde.    Please,  Father! 

Baudouin.     It  looks  like  it " 

Clotilde.  But  he  would  never  think  of  leaving 
Octave  on  the  eve  of  a  session  like  to-morrow's.  He 
has  all  the  notes  for  the  speech — Octave  is  furious! 
He'll  have  to  sit  up  all  night  to  get  them  into  shape 
again. 

Baudouin.  Let's  not  give  up  hope.  Little 
Remillot  is  not  lost.  He  is  coming  here  to-night. 
By  now  he  may  have  joined  Octave  at  the  Chamber. 

Clotilde.  But  he  wasn't  there  at  two:  Octave 
took  me  with  him,  then  he  gave  me  any  namber  of 
errands  to  do.  I'm  his  secretary  for  the  time  be- 
ing. [Showing  her  portfolio  filled  with  papers  and 
documents.]  This  contains  his  solicitor's  notes  for  a 
[18] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  I. 


big  trial  in  which  he  pleads  next  Saturday,  and  the 
new  notes  that  we've  been  trying  to  put  together  for 
the  speech  to-morrow.  By  the  way,  have  you  Jules 
Ferry's  speech  on  the — what  law  is  it?  I  don't 
remember — I  forget  everything 

Baudouin.    The  Education  Bill  of  '82? 

Clotilde.     Yes,  have  you  it? 

Baudouin.     I'll  see [He  stands  on  a  chair  and 

looks  on  a  high  shelf  of  the  bookcase.] 

Eugenie.    How  awful  to  have  Remillot  run  away! 

Clotilde.     Oh,  don't  say  anything  more  about  it ! 

Eugenie.  Octave  is  killing  himself.  He  looks  so 
preoccupied  and  tired.     Ah,  politics 

Clotilde.  Don't  I  know?  There's  a  terrible 
row  in  the  Chamber  now. 

Baudouin  [finding  the  book,  and  knocking  the  dust 
from  it  with  the  palm  of  his  hand].     For  a  change 

Clotilde.  No,  I  mean  it  seriously.  It's  very 
serious.  Pratt  was  there — nearly  worn  out,  too, 
waiting  in  front  of  the  building  for  Octave.  The 
session  began  and  they  went  in  together. 

Baudouin  [calmly].    That  will  not  prevent  the 

law's  passing 

[There  are  four  quick  and  imperative  rings  of 
the  bell,  from  the  side  of  the  living-rooms.] 
[19] 


Act  I  THE  APOSTLE 


Eugenie.     What's  that?     [Voices  are  heard  in  the 
antechamber.]     It — sounds  like  Octave's  voice! 

Clotildk.     Yes,  it  is  Octave 

Baudouin.    Good. 

Eugenie  [opening  the  antechamber  door  and  speaking 

to  Octave,  who  enters].    Take  care — you'll  fall 

Why,  he  hasn't  even  closed  the  hall  door! 

[Octave  comes  quickly  in.    He  is  evidently 
under  great  emotional  stress.] 

Baudouin  [coming  down  from  the  chair  and  laying 
the  book  on  the  table].     What  is  it? 

Octave.     It's  all  over!    Our  Education  Bill  is 
lost! 

Baudouin.    What  are  you  saying? 

Octave.    The  Cabinet  is  all  changed! 
[General  exclamations.] 

Baudouin.    The  hell  it  is! 

Clotilde.     Why ! 

Eugenie.    Oh 

Octave.     Only  an  hour  ago — why  don't  you  have 
a  telephone?    Infamy!    Treason! 

Baudouin.    The  Cabinet  that  favored  us!    Ira- 
possible!     Out  of  the  question ! 

Octave   [quickly   casting   aside   his   overcoat   and 
throwing  it  onto  the  table].      The  damned  rascals! 
[20] 


THE  APOSTLE  Ad  I 


The  dirty,  low To  have  the  cheek  to  do  that! 

It's  a  cowardly  dagger-thrust  in  the  dark 

Baudouin.     But,  tell  us! 

Octave.     Give  me  a  drink,  Mother,  I'm  parched ! 

Eugenie.    Let  me  make  you  some  tea. 

Octave.    No,  no,  water!    I  want  only  water! 
[Eugenie  goes  into  the  dining-room  with  Clo- 
tilde.] 

Baudouin.  I  don't  understand  at  all.  They  are 
not  discussing  the  Bill  to-day,  are  they?    Tell  me! 

Octave.  This  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  Bill 
proper.  It's  an  incident — a  personal  matter.  They've 
invented  another  Panama! 

Baudouin.     Another  Panama? 

Octave.  Oh,  a — everything's  upside  down.  Our 
men  are  coming  here  to  consult  with  you.  The  situa- 
tion is  extremely  grave.  And  then  my  idiot  of  a 
secretary  leaves  me  in  the  lurch.  [A  number  of 
voices  are  heard  in  heated  conversation  in  the  ante- 
chamber.]    There!     There  they  are! 

[A  group  of  parliamentarians,  friends  of  Bau- 
douin, quickly  invade  the  room.] 

Galimard  [who  has  the  Midi  accent].  Ah,  my 
friends,  what  a  mess! 

First  Deputy.    A  deathblow  from  the  Clericals! 
[211 


Act  I  THE  APOSTLE 


Second  Deputy.    Scandalous! 

Third  Deputy.    Puts  the  quietus  on  the  Bill! 

Galimard.  Let  it  be,  and  it  will  land  on  its  fore- 
paws! 

Fourth  Deputy.  And  to  think  it  was  Roquin 
who  left  us! 

Fifth  Deputy.  Serves  the  Cabinet  right!  I've 
never  heard  of  a  meaner  trick!    Never! 

Sixth  Deputy.  Nastier  than  Roquin  himself, 
which  is  saying  a  good  deal! 

Baudouin.  But  tell  me,  Messieurs,  what  hap- 
pened? A  catastrophe,  it  seems?  Is  the  Cabinet 
out? 

Pratt  [a  young  man,  elegantly  dressed].  Yes,  and 
Clement-Moulin  is  done  for! 

[Eugenie  and  Clotilde  come  in  from  the 
dining-room,  one  carrying  a  tumbler,  the 
other  a  carafe  filled  with  water.] 

Eugenie  [offering  Octave  the  glass  which  Clotilde 
has  filled].     Here,  dear 

Pratt  [to  Baudouin].  Here  it  is — it's  really  ridic- 
ulous  

Eugenie  [to  Octave,  wlw  has  taken  the  glass]. 
Not  so  fast — why,  the  perspiration  is  running  off 
you! 

[22] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  J 


Baudouin.     I  must  hear  this — Mother,  please  let 
us  discuss  this  matter  by  ourselves. 
[General  confusion  again.] 

Eugenie.    We're  going,  we're  going 

Octave  [to  Clotilde].  Have  you  that  speech  of 
Jules  Ferry? 

Clotilde.    Yes. 

Octave.  On  my  desk,  with  the  other  papers. 
Don't  forget  to  see  the  solicitor. 

Eugenie.    Oh,  dear!  oh,  dear,  what  a  day! 

[The  two  women  go  out, 

Pratt  [resuming — to  Baudouin].  You  have  no 
idea  what!  Not  long  ago,  as  the  session  opened, 
Roquin  asked  to  have  the  floor  in  order  to  make  a 
revelation  of  a  fact  which  was  intimately  concerned 
with  the  honor  of  the  Government  and  the  Chamber. 

Baudouin.    The  idea! 

Pratt.  Roquin  maintains  that  the  Clericals  of 
the  Rue  de  Varenne  made  overtures  to  the  Depart- 
ment of  the  Interior  regarding  the  offer  of  a  million — 
[laughs,  protestations,  and  general  confusion,  and  ex- 
clamations of  "A  million!"  spoken  with  sarcasm] — 
in  order  to  escape  the  proscription  of  the  religious 
establishments  which  are  under  government  regula- 
tion, according  to  the  Public  Instruction  laws, 
[23] 


Act  1  THE  APOSTLE 


Baudouin.  Try  to  bribe  a  Minister  like  Clement- 
Moulin!    It's  downright  madness! 

Pratt.     Idiotic,  as  I  said! 

Baudouin.    And  is  that  the  reason  for  the  fall? 

Pratt.  One  moment.  It  was  supposed  to  be 
with'the  complicity  of  several  parties,  politicians,  and 
officeholders,  who  are  charged  by  the  Clericals  with 
having  influenced  opinion  or  tampering  with  the 
reports. 

Baudouin.  And  does  Roquin,  one  of  our  men, 
make  the  charge? 

Pratt.  You  know  what  he's  like,  a  mere  figure- 
head who  thinks  he's  still  at  school  in  Pontoise 

Octave.  An  incapable  idiot  who  is  looking  for 
popularity.  He  wants  cheap  advertisement  at  the 
expense  of  the  party. 

Baudouin.  The  fool!  To  start  a  reaction  and 
pose  as  a  little  Robespierre.  [Laughing,  then.]  Now, 
Pratt,  you  are  chief  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  did  you 
ever  hear  the  slightest ? 

Pratt.  Nothing  at  all.  It's  a  fairy  tale,  every 
word 

Octave.  And  think,  would  the  Clericals  sacrifice 
a  million  in  order  to  stay  in  France? 

Baudouin.  You  don't  know  as  much  about  that 
[24] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  I 


as  I  do,  my  boy.  The  whole  Faubourg  has  gone  to 
school  there.  For  the  right  to  teach  the  bourgeoisie 
and  the  aristocracy,  a  million  to  the  "black  band"  is 
nothing. 

Pratt.  But  if  they  are  willing  to  buy,  there  is  no 
salesman. 

Baudouin.    Of  course,  of  course 

The  Maid  [announcing].  Monsieur  Roquin. 
[Confusion.] 

A  Deputy.    The  idea! 

Galimard.    The  nerve! 

Pratt.    I'll  talk  to  him. 

[Enter  Roquin.    He  is  tall  and  lean,  and  looks 
like  the  man  already  referred  to  in  the  fore- 
going dialogue.    Pratt  advances  toward  him 
and  says  threateningly.] 
Monsieur,  you  have  done  a  low  and  mean  trick! 

Roquin  [angrily].    What's  this? 

Baudouin.  Now,  Roquin,  what  have  you  been 
saying? 

Roquin.  The  impure  truth,  boss.  [Protesta- 
tions.] 

Pratt.  Nonsense!  You  like  a  scandal.  In  your 
attempt  to  help  the  Republic  you'll  end  by  throwing 
her  to  the  dogs. 

[25] 


Act  I  THE  APOSTLE 


Roquin.  She  will  drown  herself  in  a  mire  of 
bribery! 

[More  general  confusion.  Pratt  is  about  to 
throw  himself  on  Roquin,  but  is  prevented  by 
the  others  from  doing  so.] 

Baudouin  [interposing].    Pratt,  if  you  please! 

Galimard  [to  Roquin].  Go  to  hell  with  those 
stories  of  yours! 

Pratt.  I  refuse  to  allow  him  to  say  what  he  did ! 
[To  Roquin.]  Tell  me  to  my  face  that  you  suspect 
me?  I'm  a  member  of  the  Department  of  the  In- 
terior.    I'm  the  secretary. 

Roquin.  Pardon  me,  but  you  are  not  the  only 
official  in  the  Place  Bauveau. 

Galimard.  Come,  now,  don't  fight  among  our- 
selves.   We  must  stand  together  against  the  Clericals. 

Octave  [to  Roquin].  Then  who  are  the  guilty 
parties?    Give  us  the  names! 

Roquin.  My  investigation  will  reveal  the  guilty 
parties. 

Octave.  You  see,  you  can't.  The  whole  thing  is 
only  an  invention  of  your  diseased  brain. 

Pratt.  You  missed  your  vocation,  my  dear  man; 
you  belong  on  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

Roquin    [with   crushing   directness].    Allow    me, 
[26] 


THE  APOSTLE  Ad  I 


Monsieur!     As  recently  as  this  morning  some  one 
came  to  solicit  from  me 

Several  Deputies.    What?   You?   Nonsense! 

Roqutn.  Yes,  me!  I  had  a  visit  from  a  certain 
Puylaroche — a  thin  Jesuit,  with  any  number  of  orders 
and  decorations — looks  like  a  retired  cavalry  officer. 
I  pretended  to  fall  in  with  his  plans  in  order  to  get 
as  much  evidence  as  possible.  Then,  when  I  got  all 
I  needed,  I  showed  him  the  door.  He  had  time, 
however,  to  give  me  information  which  certain  of  our 
colleagues  have  not  given  me 

Pratt.  My  dear  friend,  I  think  you  capable  of 
finding  fleas  on  a  china  dog! 

[Laughter  and  sounds  of  approbation.] 

Roquin  [to  Pratt].    Are  you  bothered  with  them? 
[Again  Pratt  is  about  to  strike  Roquin,  and 
again  he  is  prevented  from  doing  so.     Confu- 
sion and  loud  talking.] 

Baudoutn.  Please,  Messieurs,  you  are  in  ray 
home!    How  did  the  Cabinet  break  up? 

Galimard.  I'll  tell  you.  I've  been  wanting  to 
speak  for  the  past  five  minutes  and  you  won't  listen. 
[Laughter.] 

A   Deputy.     Clement-Moulin  was   mistaken   in 

refusing  salvation,  that  is,  an  investigation 

[27] 


Ad  I  THE  APOSTLE 


Galimard    [offended].       Oh,   my!       This  is- 


The  Same  Deputy.  Which  was  wanted  by  the 
majority.  To  clear  his  own  reputation  as  well  as 
that  of  the  Cabinet — he  took  away  the  means,  and 
the  majority  overthrew  him  in  order  to  save  its  own 

face 

[Laughter.] 

Another  Deputy.  He  lacked  a  majority  by  five 
voices 

Roquin.    Six — mine! 

Baudouin.  What!  Did  the  Chamber  vote  for 
an  investigation? 

Galimard  [finally  taking  the  floor].  My  friend, 
that  was  the  cause  of  the  mischief — it  was  like  a  cold 
shower  over  the  whole  Chamber.  The  entire  Left 
rose  as  one  man,  and  demanded  the  names!  The 
names!  The  Right  shouted  for  an  investigation. 
The  speaker  pounded  his  gavel  so  hard  that  he  dis- 
located  his   wrist.     Word   of   honor,   he   was   like 

this [He  seizes  his  right  wrist  with  his  left  hand, 

picks  up  a  paper-knife,  which  he  swings  in  the  air,  and 
imitates  the  voice  of  the  speaker.]  "Messieurs,  Mes- 
sieurs, I  beg  you !"     [Laughter.] 

Baudouin.    What  did  Clement-Moulin  answer? 

Pratt.    He  made  a  most  feeble  defence 

128] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  1 


A  Deputy.    He  wouldn't  be  sorry  to  resign  now, 

he's  found  positions  for  his  whole  family 

Baudouin.        Clement-Moulin     is     an     honest 
man! 

A  Young  Deputy.    When  a  parliamentarian  is 
fifty,  he's  no  good! 

[Protestations    of    "Oh,    oh!"     The    Young 

Deputy  is  made  to  realize  that  Baudouin 

is  a  man  past  middle  age.] 

Baudouin.     What  did  he  answer? 

Galimard.     He  declared  his  innocence.     He  had  a 

clear  conscience  before  Panama — that  was  twenty 

years  ago,  but  to-day 

Roquin.    We  hardly  know  what  to  swear  by ! 
All.    That's  enough,  now! 

Galimard.     To-day,  Messieurs,  an  investigation 
was  voted;  the  result  is  the  same:  investigation  means 

death 

Roquin.     We  shall  see! 

Pratt.    Especially  as  the  only  thing  revealed  will 

be  the  shame  of  the  defamers 

Roquin.     We  shall  see! 

The  Maid  [announcing].    Senator  Ferrand! 

[Conversation    and    general    approval.     Enter 
Ferrand,    a   staid  man   of  fifty-five.    He 
[29] 


Act  1  THE  APOSTLE 


is  followed  by  a  number  of  parliamentarians, 
who  appear  to  be  more  reserved  and  are  better 
dressed  than  those  who  came  in  before.] 

Baudouin  [going  to  greet  Ferrand].  Well,  my 
friend,  is  it  the  downfall  of  the  Cabinet? 

Ferrand.  I  think  it  only  a  poor  move.  I  fore- 
saw it  the  moment  the  vote  was  taken.  Clement- 
Moulin  was  not  watching  his  game  any  too  carefully. 
Now,  when  a  Minister  is  in  power  for  two  years,  he 
imagines  he's  playing  dominoes 

Baudouin.    What?    Are    these   gentlemen ? 

How  are  you,  Messieurs? 

Ferrand.  I  have  brought  them  as  delegates  from 
the  Left 

Baudouin.    Why,  may  I  ask? 

Ferrand.  This  is  why:  the  presence  of  our  col- 
leagues here  does  not  in  the  least  prevent  my  making 
you  a  proposal  in  the  name  of  the  entire  Republican 
party 

Baudouin.    What  is  it? 

Ferrand.  Let  me  tell  you.  Immediately  after 
the  session,  the  Speaker  asked  me  to  step  in  and  see 
him;  there  he  told  me  that  this  evening  I  should  be 
proposed  by  him  at  the  Elysee  to  make  up  a  Cabinet. 
You  are  well  acquainted  with  the  good  will  that  the 
[30] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  1 


President  of  the  Republic  has  toward  me  for  what  he 
calls  my  old  professional  qualities ? 

Baudouin.  My  congratulations!  [He  grasps 
Ferrand's  hands  and  shakes  them.] 

Ferrand.  But  wait!  I  shan't  accept  unless  I 
have  you  at  my  side.  I  have  come  to  offer  you  a 
position  on  the  Cabinet. 

[Murmurs  of  approval.    Octave  starts.] 

Baudouin  [stupefied].  Never!  You  can't  really 
mean  it! 

Ferrand.  My  dear  friend,  let  us  not  waste  time. 
If  I  run  any  risk  with  the  party,  I  hope  to  make  up 
the  loss  with  you. 

Baudouin.    Messieurs,  are  you  in  earnest? 

A  Delegate.     Of  course  we  are. 

Ferrand.     I  am  not  in  the  habit  of  joking. 

Baudouin.  But  you  know  this  is  out  of  the  ques- 
tion! 

All.     Why?    Out  of  the  question? 

Baudouin.  Because  I  have  always  refused :  it  is  a 
matter  of  principle. 

Ferrand.    You  will  change. 

Baudouin.    Then   I'm    a   free    lance.    Let    me 
strike  my  blows  alone.     If  I  were  put  in  command,  I 
might  fire  on  my  own  men. 
[31] 


Act  I  THE  APOSTLE 


[Laughs  and  exclamations.] 
Ferrand.     Now  you  are  pleading  my  cause.     You 
are  a  new  man,  and  that  is  just  what  I  need  to  make 
an  entirely  new  split. 

[Cries  of  "Bravo!    Bravo!"] 

Baudouin.     But  I  have  no  aptitude 

[Protestations.] 
Ferrand.     I  offer  you  the  Department  of  Religion 
and  Instruction! 

[Cries  of  "Bravo!    Bravo!"] 
First  Delegate.    This  is  exactly  your  job.    You, 
a  former  Director  of  Primary  Education! 
[Murmurs  of  approval.] 
Second  Delegate.    Think  of  your  campaign  in 
the  "Avant  Garde"  against  religious  instruction! 
Ferrand.     And  your  manual  of  lay  instruction, 

that's  used  in  every  school  in  France 

[Exclamations:  "Ah!    Ah!"] 

Here's  a  copy [He  takes  from  his  pocket  a  small 

bound  booklet.]  A  teacher  in  the  Basse-Loire  gave 
it  to  me;  this  copy  belonged  to  one  of  his  pupils 
whose  father  is  a  member  of  the  Association  of 
Catholic  Vigilance.  Every  sentence  of  yours  is 
marked  and  corrected,  and,  furthermore,  here  are  the 

Church's  answers  to  your  charges 

[32] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  I 


Baudouin  [interested].     Let  me  see- 


Ferrand.  Listen  to  this:  [He  reads.]  "Is  the 
feeling  of  duty  a  natural  one  to  man?"  Answer,  in 
handwriting:  "The  sentiment  of  duty  is  inseparable 

from  religion " 

[Exclamations  and  murmurs.] 

Baudouin.    Idiot! 

Ferrand  [reading].  "  Can  one  fulfil  his  duties  with 
no  hope  of  reward?  "  Answer,  in  handwriting : "  With- 
out the  sanction  of  a  future  life  man  would  be  hope- 
lessly wrong  not  to  live  like  a  brute  in  the  present 
life." 

[Excited  exclamations.] 

Baudouin.  Pretty  kind  of  morality!  Never 
mind  reading  any  more.  [He  tries  to  take  the  booklet 
from  Ferrand's  hands.] 

Ferrand.    No;  let's  end  with  this  question  that 
you  ask:   "What  should  be  man's  guide?"     You 
answer:  "Reason."    The  father  replies:     "God." 
[Laughter  and  jeering.] 

Baudouin.     Nonsense,  nonsense,  nonsense! 

Ferrand.    Well,   my  dear  friend,  you  are  the 
father  of  the  laiety — [murmurs  of  approval] — and  I 
now  call  upon  you  to  put  your  theories  into  practice 
as  Minister  of  Public  Instruction. 
[33  1 


Act  1  THE  APOSTLE 


[Applause  and  cries  of  "Bravo!"] 

Baudouin  [disturbed].  Listen  to  me,  my  friends; 
this  is  the  greatest  decision  I  have  ever  been  forced 
to  make.  Before  giving  you  my  final  answer,  allow 
me  to  consult  one  whose  conscience  will  help  me  to 
see  clearly  into  my  own 

Ferrand.     Who  is  that? 

Baudouin.    My  son. 

[Every  one  turns  toward  Octave.] 

Octave.    I? 

Baudouin.    What  do  you  think? 
[Octave  hesitates.] 

Ferrand.     Well? 

Galimard.     Tell  him. 

Pratt.     Speak. 

Roquin.     Go  ahead. 

Baudouin.     What's  the  trouble?    Tell  me. 

Octave  [perplexed].  Well,  Father,  I  hardly  know 
what  to  say.  My  judgment  is  less  free  than  your 
own.  I  have  ambitions  for  you  that  you  haven't  for 
yourself.  I  am  afraid  of  advising  you  to  do  what  / 
want. 

Ferrand.    That  is  what  we  are  asking  for. 

Octave.     But  that  would  not  be  the  right  way  to 
treat  his  confidence.    The  political  situation  just 
[34] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  I 


at  present  is  so  serious — [to  his  father] — and  your 
accepting  this  office  would  entail  such  responsibili- 
ties  

All.  No,  no!  Not  at  all!  Don't  discourage 
him! 

Baudouin.    Let  him  speak! 

Octave.  Messieurs,  you  must  see  that  I  am  sacri- 
ficing my  own  interests.  [To  his  father.]  You  are  a 
mystic  of  the  Democracy;  you  have  fought  your  fight 
on  the  heights  with  ideas.  Now  it  is  a  question  of 
coming  down  into  the  depths — [protestations] — yes, 
into  the  depths. 

Roquin.    You  are  very  severe,  young  man. 

Octave.  Yes,  yes,  Messieurs,  to  ask  him  to  come 
face  to  face  with  all  the  sordid  realities  of  man-to- 
man disputes — that  is  far  below  his  capacity,  his 
character — no,  I  cannot  advise  him  to  accept. 

All  [disappointed].    Oh!    Oh! 

Baudouin  [with  deep  feeling,  as  he  goes  to  Octave 
and  takes  both  his  hands].     Thank  you,  son! 

The  Maid  [entering].  The  Speaker  of  the  Cham- 
ber  

[Excitement,  then  a  pause.] 

Baudouin  [shaking  his  finger  at  his  friends].  I  tell 
you,  if  it  was  you  who 


[35] 


Act  I  THE  APOSTLE 


Ferrand.  No,  no,  we  have  nothing  to  do  with 
this. 

Galimard.     It's  a  surprise. 

A  Delegate.     I  swear  it  is. 

Roquin.     Come,  Baudouin,  you  will  accept 

Baudouin  [hastening  to  the  door].  The  idea!  You 
here,  after  the  session! 

[Enter  Arnaut.  He  can  scarcely  speak. 
Every  one  bows  deferentially.  A  chair  is 
offered  him.     He  falls  wearily  into  it.] 

Baudouin.    You  must  be  worn  out. 
Arnaut.     Baudouin  accept? 
Ferrand.    No — not  yet. 

Baudouin.     So  you  have  come  to  worry  me ? 

Arnaut.     What  reasons? 

Galimard.     Incompetence ! 

Ferrand.    He  prefers  to  sit  back  quietly 


Baudouin.  What  the  devil!  Why  don't  you 
take  Bernard,  or  Juliaux,  or  Marchand? 

Arnaut.  Listen  to  me,  please !  I'm  nearly  worn 
out — my  voice  is — I've  not  come  here  to  use  any 
undue  influence  or  pressure:  you  may  decide  as  you 
like.  I've  come  to  ask  you  to  look  into  your  own 
conscience 

r  S6i 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  I 


[Sounds  of  approbation: "  Bravo ! "  then  "  Shh  I "] 

Baudouin.     But  it  is  precisely  my  conscience 

Arnaut.     Allow  me,  please 

All.    Listen  to  him!    Listen  to  him! 

Arnaut  [his  voice  becoming  a  little  stronger  as  he 
proceeds].  Dear  old  friend,  you  and  I  have  seen  little 
of  each  other  these  past  twenty  years;  each  of  us  has 
had  his  life  to  lead,  each  of  us  has  fought  in  the  thick 
of  the  struggle.  But  aren't  we  always  sure  to  find 
ourselves  side  by  side  in  the  hour  of  need,  under  the 
flag — isn't  that  true,  Baudouin? 

Baudouin.    It  is,  Arnaut. 

Arnaut.  I  am  asking  for  a  sacrifice,  my  friend. 
It's  an  ungrateful  task  I  am  asking  you  to  undertake. 
You  are  going  to  be  a  buffer  to  the  whole  opposition. 
All  the  hopeless  rage  of  the  enemy  will  be  spent  on 
you,  but  you  know  what  cause  you  will  be  defend- 
ing: the  education  law  is  in  danger.  [Baudouin 
starts.]     I  appeal,  Baudouin,  to  your  conscience. 

[Sounds    of    approval    again,    and    cries    of 
"Bravo!"] 

Baudouin.  Why  to  me  rather  than  to  some  one 
else?  There  are  always  enough  candidates  for  the 
offices. 

Arnaut.    Because  you  are  poor,  Henri  Baudouin ! 
[37] 


Act  1  THE  APOSTLE 


Because  at  this  time,  in  order  to  give  the  lie  to  the 
ever-increasing  reports  of  a  new  scandal,  and  in 
order  to  guarantee  that  the  investigation  will  be 
rigorously  carried  out.  There  is  no  man  who  can  do 
that  so  well  as  you:  you  will  inspire  confidence  in 
enemies  as  well  as  in  friends.  Let  me  call  you  what 
the  people  call  you:  "Father  Conscience!"  [Ap- 
plause.] 

Baudouin.  This  is  very  annoying !  I'll  be  stoned 
some  day  because  of  that  name.  Do  you  believe  in 
that  scandal? 

[Every  one  turns  toward  Arnaut.] 

Arnaut  [breaking  an  embarrassing  silence].  I — 
don't  know — it  seems  too  absurd — it  would  be  terri- 
ble     No,  I  don't  believe  it! 

All.     Yes,  you  do!    Speak!    Speak! 

Arnaut  [in  a  resonant  and  strong  voice].  No,  Mes- 
sieurs, I  am  the  leader  of  all  our  colleagues,  and  I 
have  no  right  to  have  an  opinion  on  that  subject. 
[  To  Baudouin.]  You  should  understand  me.  You, 
my  friend,  you  should  understand.  I  am  sorry  I 
appeared  so  wrought  up 

Ferrand.     What's  this? 

All.     Speak!    Speak! 

Baudouin.     Do  you  know  something ? 

[38] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  I 


Aenaut.  No,  I  know  nothing,  absolutely  nothing. 
But  during  the  past  twenty  years  we  have  suffered 
enough,  we  have  had  enough  sadness  and  shame,  we 
have  washed  the  soiled  linen  of  the  Republican  family 
so  that  there  is  no  need  of  my  making  a  confession  to 
you.  I  am  suffering  keenly,  and  I  hardly  know  why. 
I  fear  that  our  triumph  has  been  too  self-satisfied,  too 
sure  of  itself.  [Protestations.]  Yes,  yes,  Messieurs, 
I  almost  regret  the  great  purity  and  openness  of  our 
splendid  defeats!  [Going  to  Baudouin.]  Just  a  few 
moments  ago,  as  I  was  coming  up  your  five  flights  of 
stairs,  I  felt  I  was  making  a  pilgrimage  to  see  certain 
souvenirs  of  the  past.  I  saw  again  our  elders  under 
the  Empire,  to  whom  the  mere  name  of  the  Republic 
was  a  sublime  form  of  religion.  I  felt  again  the 
awful  opprobrium  of  Csesarism  and  the  nightmare  of 
invasion;  and  then  the  horror,  the  sudden  horror,  of 
seeing  at  last  our  dear  dream  of  fraternity  enter  Paris 
to  the  accompaniment  of  gunshots,  through  the 
smoking  breach  of  the  Commune !  This  is  all  legend 
to  you  younger  men.  It  seems,  too,  that  I  am  a 
phantom  of  the  past.  Sometimes,  when  I  am  sitting 
in  the  Chamber,  on  my  high  bench  dominating  every- 
thing, I  think  that  I  have  been  relegated  to  a  moun- 
tain top,  and  I  sit  there  so  alone.  My  feet  mingle 
[39] 


Ad  I  THE  APOSTLE 


in  the  melee  below,  and  become  a  part  of  the  ambi- 
tious struggles  and  disputes — it's  really  terrifying  to 
me.     [Murmurs.] 

Ferrand.     Now  you're  surely  exaggerating. 

Baudouin  [deeply  impressed].     Go  on!    Go  on! 

Arnaut.  Well,  Baudouin,  you,  too,  are  a  solitary 
summit,  only  you  are  more  alone  and  higher  than  I. 
Of  all  those  members  of  the  older  generation  who 
gathered  round  that  little  table  in  the  cafe  which  you 
remember,  just  before  you  left  for  London  on  the 
evening  of  the  second  of  December — our  throats 
were  so  contracted  that  we  couldn't  empty  our 
glasses,  our  hearts  big  with  the  emotion  of  the  im- 
pending drama — you  and  I  are  the  only  survivors. 
In  the  name  of  those  who  have  since  disappeared, 
my  dear  brother-in-arms,  I  beg  you  to  take  their 
place.  Our  fathers  made  the  Republic,  we  must 
save  it !  We  are  in  the  presence  of  the  greatest  dan- 
ger she  has  yet  faced.  The  enemy  does  not  come 
from  another  land,  it  is  at  our  doors,  among  us. 
What  is  threatened  is  not  such  and  such  a  cabinet,  it 
is  the  lay  law,  the  heart  of  the  Democracy,  it  is  the 
very  ideal  which  has  always  been  the  principle  of  my 
life  and  of  yours.  You  haven't  the  right  to  desert  us. 
Under  the  flag,  Baudouin,  under  the  flag! 
[40] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  I 


[  There  is  a  tense  pause.] 

Baudouin.     I'm  with  you,  old  man! 

Arnaut.    I  felt  sure! 

[The  delegates  are  delighted;  they  embrace  one 
another  and  converse  excitedly.] 

Galimard.     Long  live  the  Republic! 

Ferrand.    Now  to  the  Elysee! 

Baudouin  [authoritatively].  One  word,  Messieurs. 
I  wish  to  make  a  formal  condition  to  my  acceptance. 
I  firmly  believe  that  our  friend  Arnaut  is  taking  much 
too  pessimistic  a  view  of  the  political  situation.  I 
shall  see  that  the  investigation  is  carried  out  to  the 
last  detail.  What  if  I  find  the  guilty  party  on  our 
side  of  the  Chamber? 

All.    But  you  won't! 

Baudouin.    But  if  I  do? 

Arnaut.    You  will  do  justice! 

Baudouin.  Is  that  clearly  understood?  I  refuse 
to  be  curbed  afterward — no  matter  who  he  is  or  how 
high  he  stands. 

All.     Of  course!    We  understand. 

Baudouin.  Shall  I  have  the  confidence  and  good 
will  of  our  friend,  Roquin?     I  should  appreciate 

All.    Well?    Shall  he? 

Roquin  [after  a  moment's  reflection].    Yes,  yes,  I 
[41] 


Act  1  THE  APOSTLE 


admit  that  if  Baudouin  is  to  superintend  the  investi- 
gation  

All.    Good! 

Pratt.    There's  a  just  man  for  you! 

Ferrand.    My  dear  Baudouin,  I  feel  this  very 

deeply I  can't  thank  you 

All.  Long  live  Baudouin!  To  the  Elysee! 
Long  live  Arnaut!  Long  live  the  Republic!  To  the 
Elysee! 

[Baudouin  is  given  a  cordial  ovation.  The 
men  go  out  amid  great  enthusiasm.  Roquin, 
who  lingers  and  is  the  last  of  the  delegation  to 
leave,  casts  a  cold  glance  at  Octave.  Oc- 
tave stands,  oblivious  of  everything,  with 
one  hand  on  his  forehead,  his  eyes  staring  into 
the  void.] 
Baudouin  [reentering — pensive  and  solemn].  Oc- 
tave? 

Octave  [quickly  coming  to  himself].  Yes?  What 
is  it? 

Baudouin.  Come  here,  son.  You  are  excited, 
aren't  you?  So  am  I.  Come,  kiss  me.  [Octave 
allows  his  father  to  kiss  him.]  Let  me  look  into  your 
eyes  for  the  power  I  shall  need.  You  will  help  me, 
won't  you? 

[42] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  I 


Eugenie  [entering,  right].    What  has  happened? 

Baudouin.     I  am  Minister 

Eugenie.    Minister,  you? 

Baudouin  [pointing  to  his  son,  who  is  pressed  close 
to  his  breast].    And  here  is  my  right  arm,  Mother! 


Curtain 


43] 


ACT  II 


act  n 

The  same  scene  as  in  the  preceding  act,  except  that 
Baudouin's  office  has  been  overhauled,  and  now 
presents  an  official  appearance.  There  is  no  more 
disorder:  the  bookshelves  have  glass  doors,  there  is  a 
bronze  bust  of  the  Republic,  new  furniture,  a  desk 
suitable  for  a  cabinet  minister  on  the  right,  with  a 
telephone  on  it.  To  the  left,  a  smaller  desk,  opposite 
the  large  one. 

Latouche,  a  young  secretary,  sits  at  the  small 
desk,  working.  Baudouin,  in  a  jacket,  and  very 
well  dressed,  walks  back  and  forth,  his  hands  clasped 
behind  him. 

Latouche.  Let  me  reread  the  list  of  wit- 
nesses: Rosserand,  Gigou,  Walter,  Ribauval,  Poite- 
vin,  de  Flersac,  Nanteuil,  Petit  de  Blommeville, 
Juniot,  Valentin,  Meyer. 

Baudouin.     Is  that  all? 

Latouche  [rather  annoyed].  You  really  must  see 
[47] 


Ad  II  THE  APOSTLE 


Monsieur  Puylaroche.  You  won't  forget  that,  will 
you,  Monsieur  le  ministre? 

Baudouin.     Puylaroche? 

Latouche.  Yes,  he's  a  delegate:  the  man  from 
the  Clericals  who  made  that  offer  to  Monsieur  Ro- 
quin.  They  are  bringing  a  charge  of  attempted 
bribery 

Baudouin.  Yes,  you  insist  on  my  seeing  him.  I 
can't  make  the  investigation  myself,  my  connection 
is  purely  official 

Latouche  [as  he  writes].    So  far,  his  answers  before 

the  commission  have  been  nothing  at  all [Looking 

at  Baudouin.]  I  assure  you,  Monsieur  le  ministre,  it 
is  very  important  that  you  see  him 


Baudouin.     But  why?    Tell  me- 


Latouche  [writing  again].  He  knows  a  great  deal, 
but  he  refuses  to  talk  except  in  private. 

Baudouin.  He's  a  nasty  solicitor.  Really,  I 
don't  like  the  idea  of  seeing  him.  Oh,  very  well, 
then,  Latouche,  I  consent.  We  can't  have  too  much 
light  on  the  subject — let  us  have  more!  [He  looks 
for  something  in  his  desk.]  Have  you  seen  my  pipe, 
Latouche?  I  can't  find  anything,  now  that  things 
have  been  rearranged. 

Latouche.  I  beg  your  pardon,  Monsieur  le 
[48] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


ministre,  but  you  promised  Madame  Baudouin  that 
you  would  smoke  only  cigars.  Allow  me?  [He 
offers  Baudouin  his  case  of  cigars.] 

Baudouin.  Very  well:  the  ministerial  cigar. 
[He  takes  a  cigar.]  I  see,  you're  an  accomplice  of  my 
wife's.  [He  lights  the  cigar.]  Your  cigars  are  very 
good,  by  the  way.  [He  walks  back  and  forth.]  Do 
you  know,  Latouche,  Gerberoi's  evidence  was  some- 
thing astounding!  Pratt  is  certainly  compromised 
— and  I  had  such  confidence  in  that  fellow !  He  had 
the  nerve  to  come  here  and  announce  that  the  Cabi- 
net   had    been    overthrown!     And    Fontanez — and 

Villardieu!    It's   really Why    do    you    smile, 

Latouche? 

Latouche.     It's  nothing,  Monsieur  le  ministre. 

Baudouin.    Tell  me,  what  are  you  thinking? 

Latouche  [after  a  moment's  hesitation].  You  are 
new  to  the  business 

Baudouin  [laughing] .   Oh,  no,  I'm  only  an  old  fogey ! 

Latouche.  You  know,  without  your  interven- 
tion, the  report  of  the  trial  would  not  have  been  pub- 
lished in  toto 

Baudouin.  Oh,  there  was  plenty  of  opposition, 
but  you  know  my  principles,  and  you  are  aware  of 
my  reasons  for  accepting  this  office.  I  stand  for  a 
[49] 


Act  II  THE  APOSTLE 


thorough  cleaning-up  without  regard  to  consequence. 
[  There  is  a  knock  on  the  door.]    Come  in ! 

Enter  a  Servant  in  a  white  apron. 

What  is  it?    I  am  working,  and  I  can  receive  no  one. 

The  Servant  [presenting  cards  on  a  salver].  These 
gentlemen  say  they  have  an  appointment 

Baudouin  [without  looking  at  the  names  on  the 
cards].  That  is  not  true;  they  have  no  appointment. 
I  wish  to  be  alone. 

Latouche  [glancing  at  the  cards].  Monsieur  le 
ministre,  it's  Monsieur  Galimard 

Baudouin.  Again!  He's  obsessed!  I  know 
what  he  wants.  I  shan't  give  in,  however.  I  have 
said  No,  and  I  repeat  it! 

Latouche.     Monsieur  Galimard  is  head  of  the 

Baudouin  [hesitating  a  moment].  Tell  him  to 
come  in,  Jules.  Now  I'll  give  them  to  understand 
once  for  all! 

[The  Servant  goes  out. 
No  matter  what  you  say,  it  is  scandalous  to  see 
honest  men  interceding  for  a  scamp 

Enter  Galimard,  Duval-Porcheret,  and  Meyer- 
heim. 
[50] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


Galimard.    Only  a  word,  my  dear  Minister 

Baudouin.     Galimard,  my  friend 

Galimard.  Let  me  introduce  these  gentlemen. 
Monsieur  Meyerheim,  the  well-known  banker — our 
party — Monsieur  Duval-Porcheret,  president  of  the 
Republican  Democratic  committee  of  Villeneuve- 
sur-Marne 

Baudouin.  Galimard,  my  friend,  you  are  the 
best  fellow  in  the  world,  but  if  you  brought  here  the 
whole  party  and  every  banker  on  the  Rue  Laffitte — 
I  beg  your  pardon,  Messieurs — you  could  not  move 
me  one  inch.  I  am  firm;  I  believe  Pratt  is  dishonest. 
Let  justice  take  its  course. 

Galimard.  But  you  can't  sacrifice  Pratt;  he's 
our  candidate  for  election  next  month  in  the  Basse- 
Marne.  He  has  all  the  votes  of  the  Grand-Morin. 
It  would  mean  the  loss  of  a  whole  department! 

Baudouin.    We'll  find  another. 

Duval-Porcheret.  That  is  easily  said,  Monsieur 
le  ministre.  I  beg  your  pardon,  but  I  come  from 
that  district.  You  have  no  idea  what  efforts  the 
Church  party  is  now  making  there  to  ruin  the  lay 
schools.  Monsieur  Pratt  may  not  be  all  he  should 
be,  but  still  he  is  the  only  man  in  the  party  who  has 
the  confidence  of  the  rural  districts.  He  has  been 
[51] 


,4c/  II  THE  APOSTLE 


working  them  for  the  past  three  years,  and  spent  any 
amount  of  money 

Baudouin.  Which  he  got  out  of  the  pockets  of 
others. 

Meyerheim.  Money,  Monsieur  le  ministre,  is 
always  taken  out  of  some  one's  pocket.  I  have  had 
business  relations  with  Monsieur  Pratt  for  a  great 
many  years.  He  is  connected  with  numerous  houses; 
his  fall  would  cause  widespread  ruin  among  any  num- 
ber of  small  stockholders:  the  obscure  pillars  of  the 
Republic.  You  have  no  wish  to  strike  these  innocent 
people ? 

Baudouin.  In  defending  the  cause  of  honesty  I 
am  rendering  a  service  to  all  the  humble  men  and 
women  who  are  the  victims  of  a  few  thieves. 

Galimard.  But,  my  dear  friend,  Pratt  is  an  in- 
telligent man — former  Secretary  of  the  Interior.  He 
would  go  into  the  Chamber  and  there  make  use  of 
his  wide  experience 

Baudouin.     Fine  experience ! 

Galimard.  This  would  mean  a  big  scandal.  Are 
you  considering  that?  Then,  Pratt  is  on  our  side. 
Your  son  knows  him,  so  do  you 

Baudouin.  Oh,  we  have  known  him  as  an  official, 
that  is  all. 

[52] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


Galimard.  But  he  used  to  come  to  see  you.  I 
met  him  here  ten  days  ago  when  we  were  forming  the 
Cabinet.  Why,  he  was  one  of  the  most  enthusiastic 
supporters  of  your  candidacy  as  Minister 

Baudouin.  But  do  I  want  to  owe  anything  to  a 
political  schemer  who  was  counting  on  my  com- 
placency in  this  matter? 

Galimard.     But  you  do,  I  tell  you 

[Ferrand  enters  unannounced.  He  is  evi- 
dently in  a  hurry  and  preoccupied.  He 
speaks  quickly  and  briefly.] 

Ferrand.     Good  day,  Messieurs! 

All  [except  Baudouin,  bowing].    Monsieur! 

Ferrand.  You  will  excuse  me,  Messieurs?  Ur- 
gent business.     I  must  speak  with  Baudouin. 

Galimard.  Don't  forget!  A  word  about  Pratt 

Ferrand.  Yes,  yes.  [Getting  rid  of  Galimard.] 
See  you  at  the  Chamber,  Galimard? 

Meyerheim.     Monsieur,  we  shall  leave  you 

Galimard  [as  he  leaves].  Then  you'll  think  about 
it,  Baudouin?  I  am  speaking  for  our  common  in- 
terest  

Latouche.     Shall  I  go  out  with  these  gentlemen? 

Ferrand.    Yes,  please,  just  for  a  minute. 

[The  four  men  go  out. 
[53] 


Ad  II  THE  APOSTLE 


Baudouin.     Sit  down,  will  you? 

Ferrand.     I  haven't  time 

Baudouin.     What  is  it?    Nothing  serious,  I  hope ! 

Ferrand.  Serious,  no,  but  rather  disagreeable. 
You  remember  your  son's  secretary,  who  disap- 
peared? 

Baudouin.  Yes,  ten  days  ago.  My  son  thinks  it 
was  some  crazy  idea.  I  had  a  search  made  for  him. 
But  what  is  it?  I'm  busy.  Do  you  know  something 
about  the  matter? 

Ferrand.     Well,  my  friend,  he  committed  suicide. 

Baudouin  [thunderstruck].    What's  that? 

Ferrand.  I  have  just  learned  the  news  from  the 
prefecture.  His  body  was  found  in  a  ditch  in  the 
Bois  de  Boulogne.  Here  is  the  report  of  the  investi- 
gation. Suicide  was  evident.  [Ferrand  Iiands 
Baudouin  a  sheet  of  paper  and  watches  closely  the 
effect  produced  on  him.] 

Baudouin  [having  read  the  paper].  Poor  fellow! 
I'm  terribly  sorry!     It's  unbelievable! 

Ferrand.  As  to  the  reasons  that  led  him  to  kill 
himself,  you  see  nothing  is  said 

Baudouin.    No,  I  see 

Ferrand.     Can't  you  surmise,  perhaps 


Baudouin.     No,  I  have  no  idea.     From  what  I 

[54] 


'   THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 

t»       mil  ii  ■■■  — ,-,.  ■  i  ,      .. 

know  of  the  young  man — no,  I  can't  imagine.     Why, 
it's  unbelievable 

Ferrand.  I  know  less  about  it  all  than  you.  [A 
pause.]  Between  you  and  me,  what  sort  of  man  was 
this  Remillot? 

Baudouin.  Honest  and  upright — a  good  clean 
character,  and  faithful  worker.  But  you  know  of 
Remillot — the  professor  who  refused  to  swear  his 
oath  under  the  Empire — that  was  his  father.  The 
little  fellow  wrote  for  the  "Avant  Garde."  This 
suicide  seems  so  unreasonable 

Ferrand.  Possibly  your  son  could  help  us  out? 
It  is  certainly  to  his  interest  that  the  papers  don't 
get  hold  of  the  story  and  invent  one  of  those  fantastic 
tales 

Baudouin.    What  could  they  possibly  say? 

Ferrand.  Well — you  know — the  secretary  of  a 
prominent  deputy,  who  is  the  son  of  a  new  minister 

whom  the  enemy  are  watching  day  and  night I 

thought  it  wise  to  let  you  know  at  once,  before  any 
one  else  got  wind  of  it.  I  am  quite  sure  the  poor 
fellow  was  all  right,  only — -well,  explain  it;  we  must 
have  an  explanation.  We  can't  have  any  mys- 
tery about  it.  See  your  son,  and  then  don't  do 
anything  without  first  consulting  me. 
[55] 


Act  11  THE  APOSTLE 


Baudouin.  I'll  see  about  it  at  once.  Are  you 
going  now? 

Ferrand.  I  have  business  at  the  Department  of 
the  Interior — this  call  has  already  made  me  late. 
See  you  to-morrow,  old  man,  at  the  Cabinet  meeting 
in  the  Elysee.  [Just  before  he  leaven.]  Oh,  by  the 
way,  that  investigation!  Tell  me,  are  you  really 
going  to  sacrifice  Pratt  and  Fontanez? 

Baudouin.     Absolutely. 

Ferrand.  You  are  hard,  Baudouin;  that  will  be 
a  severe  blow  for  us.  People  will  see  only  the  fault 
of  the  guilty  men  and  not  the  virtue  of  the  judges 

Baudouin.  Ferrand,  is  it  you  who  speak  to  me 
this  way?     Don't  you  remember  that  we  agreed ? 

Ferrand.    Yes,  yes,  we  did. 

Baudouin.  Well,  then,  don't  you  approve  of 
what  I  am  doing?     [A  pause.] 

Ferrand.     Frankly,  you  can't  do  it. 

Baudouin.     Why? 

Ferrand.     Because 

Baudouin.    Tell  me,  why? 

Ferrand.  Wait  for  a  few  days.  [He  goes  out 
quickly.  Baudouin  stands  in  astonishment  before  the 
door.] 

Baudouin  [calling],    Latouche,  come  here! 
156] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


Enter  Latouche. 

Please  call  up  my  son  on  the  telephone,  and  tell  him 
that  his  secretary  killed  himself. 

Latouche.    Rene    Remillot?    [His  astonishment 
shows  that  he  realizes  the  gravity  of  the  news.] 
Baudouin.    Hurry  up.    \ 

Latouche  [at  the  telephone] .    Hello — hello — Made- 
moiselle?   556-79. 

[A  pause,  during  which  Baudouin  walks  back 
and    forth.    His    attitude    is  feverish   and 
nervous.] 
Monsieur  Octave  Baudouin?     [To  Baudouin.]  He  is 
at  the  Palais  de  Justice — busy  with  a  case. 

Baudouin.    Have  some  one  send  for  him  and 
ask  him  to  come  to  see  me  as  soon  as  he  is  through. 
Latouche  [into  the  telephone].    Go  to  the  Palais 
and  tell  Monsieur  Octave  Baudouin  that  his  father 
wishes  to  have  him  come  immediately  after  the  hear- 
ing— yes,  at  once — important  business — very  well. 
[Clotilde  pushes  the  door  of  the  antechamber 
halfway  open.] 
Clotilde.     May  I  come  in?    Are  there  no  more 
officials?     [She  comes  in  with  her  two  children:  one  a 
boy  of  eighty  the  other  a  girl  of  six.] 
[57  1 


Act  II  THE  APOSTLE 


The  Boy.     Hello,  Grandpa! 

The  Little  Girl.  Heyyo,  Grandpa!  [They  run 
to  Baudouin.] 

Baudouin.  Ah,  it's  you,  Clotilde!  You've  come 
at  a  time 


The  Boy.  Guess  what  we've  brought  you, 
Grandpa? 

The  Little  Girl.  Somefing  you've  never  never 
seen. 

The  Boy.     It's  wonderful! 

Baudouin.  I  haven't  time  just  now,  children — 
another  time! 

Clotilde.  And  you  were  complaining  that  you 
never  saw  them  nowadays.  Grandma's  going  to 
take  them  to  the  Luxembourg  Gardens 

Baudouin.  Yes,  yes,  very  good!  But  I  want  to 
tell  you  something  very  serious 

Clotilde.     What  is  the  matter? 

The  Boy.     You'll  be  surprised,  I  tell  you! 

The  Little  Girl.     Won't  you  look? 

Baudouin.    Take  them  away,  Clotilde,  please! 

Clotilde.  Come,  children,  we'll  go  to  Grand- 
ma  

The  Boy.     Look,  it's  your  picture — you  don't 

like  to  have  it  taken 

[58] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


The  Little  Girl.     I  put  on  the  paints- 


Baudouin  [to  Clotilde].  Please  take  them 
away — I  can't  stand  them! 

Clotilde.  Come,  children,  don't  you  hear  me? 
[She  takes  them  by  the  hand.  The  Little  Girl  bursts 
out  crying,  frightened  by  Baudouin's  harsh  tone.] 

Baudouin.  Now,  now,  there  she  is  crying!  Wait 
a  minute,  Clotilde.  Leave  her  with  me  a  moment. 
[He  takes  the  Little  Girl  on  his  knee.]  Oh,  dear,  dear, 
are  you  afraid?  There,  dear,  I'm  not  angry  at  all. 
You  know  Grandpa  has  such  a  heap  of  things  to 
worry  him.  Now,  it's  all  over — quick,  kiss  me. 
There,  there's  five  francs  for  your  picture.  You  may 
have  a  ride  on  the  donkey  in  the  Luxembourg 
Gardens 

The  Boy.  That's  fine!  Say,  you're  a  fine  Min- 
ister!   A  fine  one! 

Clotilde  [taking  the  children  out  through  the  door 
at  the  right  and  speaking  to  their  grandmother,  who 
is  in  the  next  room].  There  they  are,  Grandma,  you 
may  take  them  to  the  Luxembourg.  [She  closes  the 
door  and  goes  to  Baudouin.]    Now,  what  is  it? 

Baudouin.  One  second.  Latouche,  please  be 
good  enough  to  carry  those  notes  to  the  prefecture. 
Then  ask,  for  me,  whether  the  investigation  has 
[59] 


Ad  11  THE  APOSTLE 


brought  forth  any  new  information  about  the 
Remillot  affair.  Come  back  then  and  report  to 
me. 

Clotilde.    Have  they  found  any  clue  yet? 

Latouche.  Very  well,  Monsieur  le  ministre. 
You  won't  forget  that  you  have  made  an  appoint- 
ment to  see  Monsieur  Puylaroche  at  half-past 
three? 

Baudouin.    That's  so. 

Latouche  [bowing].     Madame. 

[He   goes   out. 

Clotilde.  Now,  what  is  it?  You  make  me  so 
afraid 

Baudouin.    Little  Remillot  committed  suicide. 

Clotilde  [with  a  piercing  cry].    How  horrible! 

Baudouin.  The  prefecture  reported  that  to  me. 
I  have  just  received  the  first  report  of  their  brief 
inquest.  His  body  was  discovered  in  a  ditch  in 
the  Bois  de  Boulogne. 

Clotilde.  But  that's  impossible.  There  must 
be  some  mistake!    It's  not  he! 

Baudouin.  Certain  papers  found  on  his  body 
leave  no  doubt  of  his  identity. 

Clotilde.  But  how  do  they  know  it  wasn't  a 
murder? 

[60] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


Baudouin.  He  was  still  holding  his  revolver. 
There  was  not  a  single  trace  of  any  struggle — his 
pocketbook  had  not  been  touched. 

Clotilde  [becoming  more  and  more  alarmed,  with 
tears  in  her  eyes].  The  poor  young  man!  Killed 
himself! 

Baudouin.  The  body  was  already  in  a  state  of 
decomposition 

Clotilde.     Don't! 

Baudouin.  It  happened  ten  days  ago:  that  is, 
the  day  he  disappeared. 

Clotilde.  Friday  the  twenty-second:  the  very 
day  we  saw  the  last  of  him? 

Baudouin.     Probably 

Clotilde.     Where  did  he  shoot  himself? 
[Baudouin  points  to  his  heart.] 
Awful !   The  poor  young  man !     [She  falls  into  a  chair, 
and  bursts  into  a  fit  of  sobbing.] 

Baudouin.  Now,  my  dear,  control  yourself. 
You  must  see  that  under  the  circumstances,  with  this 
big  investigation  going  on,  I  cannot  allow  my  ene- 
mies to  find  out  about  this  and  profit  by  the  coinci- 
dence. You  see,  there  must  be  no  mystery  of  any 
kind.     Have  you  any  idea  of  his  motive? 

Clotilde.    I?    I  haven't  the  slightest  suspicion. 
[61] 


Act  II  THE  APOSTLE 


Not  the  slightest.     I  don't  know  what  to  think 
now !     Why  do  you  ask  me  ? 

Baudouin.  Whom  should  I  ask?  You  saw  him 
from  morning  till  night  every  day. 

Clotilde  [suddenly  apprehensive].  Tell  me, 
Father,  among  the  papers  that  were  found  on  him, 
was  there  a  letter  for  any  one? 

Baudouin.  Nothing — not  a  word.  That  is  pre- 
cisely what  troubles  me.  He  seems  to  have  taken 
precautions  so  that  no  one  should  discover  his 
motive. 

[Clotilde  shows  a  look  of  anguish.] 
Well,  he  was  twenty-three — isn't  it  reasonable  to 
suppose  that  there  was  a  woman  in  the  case? 

Clotilde.    Oh,  no! 

Baudouin.     Why  not? 

Clotilde.  Because — well,  I  told  you  the  other 
day:  he  was  a  most  upright  and  honorable  young 
man,  of  very  high  ideals.  He  never  had  anything 
to  do  with  women — the  way  you  imply:  he  had 
the  strictest  possible  principles. 

Baudouin.  Exactly.  I  don't  mean  to  say  that 
he  killed  himself  for  some  prostitute.  He  was  a 
serious  young  fellow,  and  possibly  some  deep  pas- 
sion  ? 

[62] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


Clotilde.  Oh,  don't  say  that!  No,  you  mustn't. 
He  would  never  do  anything  so  foolish  as  that! 

Baudouin.    You  are  quite  sure  he  had  no  affair? 

Clotilde.    Quite! 

Baudouin.     Any  financial  troubles? 

Clotilde.  No!  He  cared  nothing  about  money 
— he  was  even  very  careless. 

Baudouin.  Then  can  you  explain  why  a  pawn 
ticket  was  found  on  his  body? 

Clotilde.     A  pawn  ticket?    Impossible! 

Baudouin.  For  a  gold  watch  and  chain:  sixty- 
five  francs. 

Clotilde.     Was  he  so  short  of  money? 

Baudouin.  So  it  seems.  But  how  can  we  ex- 
plain it,  unless  he  spent  his  money  in  some  vicious 
way?     He  was  well  paid 

Clotilde.     You're  on  the  wrong  scent. 

Baudouin.  What  do  you  mean?  Do  you  know 
something  about  this? 

Clotilde.     I  know  absolutely  nothing. 

Baudouin.  My  child,  this  is  not  the  moment 
for  keeping  anything  back.  You  must  tell  me  the 
truth,  Clotilde. 

Clotilde.    Well,   Father [She   is   about   to 

speak.]     I'm  afraid. 

[63  1 


Act  II  THE  APOSTLE 


Baudouin.  No,  tell  me.  You  must:  I  insist. 
Please. 

Clotilde.  Very  well,  then!  You  would  have 
learned  everything  sooner  or  later.  If  Remillot 
was  short  of  money — [she  hesitates  once  more] — 
it  was  because  for  the  past  three  months  he  was 
going  without  his  salary. 

Baudouin.  What!  Didn't  Octave  pay  him? 
What  are  you  saying?     What  does  it  mean? 

Clotilde.     It  was  wrong  of  me! 

Baudouin.  No,  no.  Tell  me,  tell  me.  Why 
didn't  Octave  pay  him? 

Clotilde.  Because  just  now  we  are  very  short 
ourselves. 

Baudouin.  You  short!  But  Octave  has  an  in- 
come of  over  thirty  thousand  francs — as  a  lawyer. 
You  have  no  extra  expenses:  you  have  no  mania  for 
jewels,  and  he  has  no  debts.     Well,  then? 

Clotilde.     I  can't  tell  you. 

Baudouin.  You  poor  woman,  don't  you  realize 
what  I'm  suffering?  What  is  this  I  am  finding  out? 
You  tell  me  of  a  deficit  and  you  give  me  no  reasons, 
and  at  the  very  moment  when  your  husband's  secre- 
tary  


Clotilde.    Don't!  Please! 
164  1 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


Baudouin.  What  has  Octave  done?  What  has 
he  done? 

Clotilde.  I — it  seems  as  if  I  were  lowering  my- 
self in  telling  this. 

Baudouin.  What  have  you  to  complain  of  about 
your  husband? 

Clotilde.  You  are  the  only  person  who  doesn't 
know.     All  of  Paris  points  out  his  mistress ! 

Baudouin.    Octave's  mistress? 

Clotilde.  Mademoiselle  Solange,  of  the  Grand- 
Theatre — if  you  want  to  know  her  name! 

Baudouin  [utterly  dumbfounded].  It  isn't  true! 
I  don't  believe  you.  No,  no,  my  child,  I  don't  be- 
lieve you.  Accuse  Octave  of  that  at  a  moment  like 
this,  when  his  honor  is  at  stake!  Please,  I  beg  you, 
don't  make  a  statement  like  that — you  don't  know 
what  it  means!  What  proofs  have  you?  Formal, 
indisputable  proofs? 

Clotilde.  I  have  them:  formal  and  indispu- 
table. You  don't  imagine  that  I  believed  it  either? 
I  didn't  until  a  woman  friend  of  mine  took  me  to  a 
picture  exhibition — dragged  me  by  main  force.  She 
wanted  to  enjoy  my  embarrassment,  and  I  took  up 
her  offer,  for  my  pride  was  hurt  by  the  insinuation. 
I  went  and  I  saw  them — with  my  own  eyes! 
[65] 


Act  II  THE  APOSTLE 


Baudouin.    He  and  that  woman? 

Clotilde.  He  and  that  woman !  Of  course,  they 
behaved  respectably  to  all  appearances.  They  seemed 
to  enjoy  parading  themselves  before  every  one — 
though  their  hypocrisy  was  too  apparent.  But  one 
instant,  when  they  were  not  in  the  midst  of  the  crowd, 
they  stopped  in  front  of  a  nasty  picture.  Just  a 
fraction  of  a  second — I  saw  the  way  he  took  her  hand. 
Their  heads  were  close  together  as  they  devoured 
that  voluptuous  nude  picture.  It  seemed  to  me 
then,  that  by  the  looks  they  exchanged,  their  bodies 
were  before  me,  like  their  looks,  and  that  I,  too,  stood 
in  their  presence — naked!  I  felt  dizzy  with  shame 
and  I  ran  away  as  if  I  were  in  a  nightmare 

Baudouin.  Oh,  the  miserable  cad!  [Seeing 
Clotilde  wipe  away  a  tear  of  rage.]  My  poor 
child! 

Clotilde  [with  a  certain  ferocity].  Oh,  no!  You 
mustn't  pity  me.     [A  pause.] 

Baudouin.     You  won't  forgive  your  husband? 

Clotilde  [rising].  A  woman  may  forgive:  love 
never  does!     [Another  pause.] 

Baudouin.  Is  it  possible!  Octave!  Octave! 
We  are  speaking  of  Octave,  are  we  not?  So,  he  is 
keeping  that  woman? 

[66] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  U 


Clotilde.  Ruining  himself  for  her!  I  scarcely 
have  enough  money  for  household  expenses.  We  are 
running  into  debt  every  day :  I  must  even  send  away 
a  servant 

Baudouin.    You  are  in  debt? 

Clotilde.  A  mistress  of  the  Grand-Theatre  is  an 
expensive  luxury.  Then  as  a  deputy  Octave  gets 
reduced  rates! 

Baudouin.  Please,  Clotilde,  let's  not  joke  at 
such  a  time  as  this!  If  you  knew  what  mad  ideas 
are  running  through  my  head  now!  So  you  say  he 
is  ruining  himself  for  her? 

Clotilde.     He  bought  her  an  automobile. 

Baudouin.     What?    An  automobile? 

Clotilde.     Oh,  it's  the  style  now! 

Baudouin.    Then — how  much  do  you  suppose 

Clotilde.  Oh,  I  don't  know.  He  can  pay  the 
price — she  is  for  sale! 

Baudouin.  For  God's  sake,  tell  me  where  he 
finds  the  money? 

Clotilde.  He  doesn't  find  it,  to  begin  with,  and 
then  he  earns  extra  money  by  killing  himself  with 
work.  He  pleads  any  and  every  case  he  can  get. 
His  friend  Pratt  helps  him  get  new  cases. 

Baudouin.    Pratt?    Did  you  say  Pratt? 
[67] 


Act  II  THE  APOSTLE 


Clotilde.  Yes,  the  former  Secretary  of  the  In- 
terior.    He  is  the  one  who  first  debauched  him. 

Baudouin.  My  child,  this  is  the  end  of  every- 
thing for  us.     We  are  lost. 

Clotilde.     Lost?     Why?    WTiat  do  you  mean? 

Baudouin.  This  investigation  of  mine  has  dis- 
covered the  most  damaging  evidence  against  Pratt. 

Clotilde.     Are  you  sure? 

Baudouin.  Absolutely.  He  may  be  arrested  at 
any  moment.  So  Pratt  is  on  intimate  terms  with 
Octave? 

Clotilde.  Don't  talk  about  it.  That  makes  no 
difference!     I    am    sure    Octave    knows    nothing 


about 

Baudouin.    I,  too! 

Clotilde.    Then  what  is  the  trouble?    What  are 
you  thinking  of? 

Baudouin.     Nothing. 

Clotilde.    Yes,  you  are. 

Baudouin  [looking  her  straight  in  the  eyes].     Clo- 
tilde, Clotilde! 

Clotilde  [suddenly  realizing  what  he  is  thinking]. 
Don't,  don't!     [A  long  pause  of  intense  emotional 
agony.     Then  there  is  a  knock  on  the  door.]     Come  in. 
Enter  the  Servant. 
[68] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


The  Servant.  Some  one  to  see  Monsieur  le 
ministre.  I  said  that  Monsieur  le  ministre  would 
see  no  one,  but  the  gentleman  tells  me  he  has  an  ap- 
pointment. 

Baudouin.     Have  you  his  card? 

The  Servant.  No,  Monsieur  le  ministre,  he 
wouldn't  give  me  one.     He  just  said,  "  Puylaroche." 

Baudouin.  That's  so.  Tell  him  to  come  in, 
Jules.  [To  Clotilde.]  Now  go,  my  dear,  this  is  a 
political  matter 

Clotilde.  But  not  a  word  to  Octave,  remem- 
ber! 

[She  goes  out,  right. 
[Enter  Puylaroche,  left.    He  wears  the  ribbon 
of  the  Legion  of  Honor.] 

Puylaroche  [bowing].    Monsieur  le  ministre 

Baudouin.  Monsieur,  you  have  refused  to  testify 
before  the  investigation  committee.  May  I  know 
the  reason  ?  I  have  only  an  instant.  I  am  waiting 
for  your  answer. 

Puylaroche.  I  beg  your  pardon,  Monsieur  le 
ministre,  it  was  you  who  asked  to  see  me.  I  hope 
you  are  not  going  to  blame  me  for  accepting  your 
invitation?  I  come  here  with  the  best  of  intentions, 
in  order  to  give  you  information  that  will  not  sound 
[69] 


Act  II  THE  APOSTLE 


any  too  well  in  a  public  assembly.  It  will,  none  the 
less,  be  very  precious  to  you. 

Baudouin.  May  I  ask  you  again  to  speak,  Mon- 
sieur? 

Puylaroche.  I  believe  you  are  aware  that  your 
son's  secretary 

Baudouin.  I  know,  Monsieur,  but  I  don't  see 
what  that  has  to  do  with  the  matter?  What  do 
you  mean  to  insinuate? 

Puylaroche.  Nothing  at  all :  it  has  nothing  to  do 
with  the  question.  I  simply  wished  to  state  that 
your  son,  whose  best  interests  I  have  at  heart 

Baudouin.    Then  you  know  him? 

Puylaroche.  I  have  that  honor.  That  your  son, 
as  a  result  of  this,  is  going  to  find  himself  placed 
in  a  most  delicate  situation,  and  that  my  advice 
will  possibly  be  of  some  service  to  him 

Baudouin.  You  of  service  to  him?  How?  Do 
you  know  the  motive  of  the  suicide? 

Puylaroche.  Oh,  Monsieur  le  ministre,  I  never 
know  anything;  I  don't  want  to  know  anything.  It 
goes  without  saying  that  any  one  may  have  a  secre- 
tary, who  for  personal  reasons But  the  public, 

you  know,  is  always  only  too  ready  to  look  on  the 

worst  side  of  things,  and  in  this  particular  instance 

[70  1 


THE  APOSTLE  Ad  II 


will  draw  a  regrettable  parallel  between  the  suicide 
and  a  certain  other  affair  which  will  not  long  remain 
secret.  , 

Baudouin.     Why — what  affair? 

Puylaroche.  Hasn't  your  son  told  you?  In 
that  case,  Monsieur  le  ministre,  I  must  say  nothing. 

Baudouin.  Yes,  yes,  my  son  did  drop  some  re- 
mark— but  I  forget:  what  about  it? 

Puylaroche.  Well,  I  am  known  to  be  discreet, 
and 

Baudouin.    Speak,  Monsieur. 

Puylaroche.  You  will  allow  me  then  to  divulge 
this  professional  secret  on  behalf  of  your  son? 

Baudouin.     Yes,  I  do.    Now,  proceed. 

Puylaroche.  Well,  Monsieur  le  ministre,  let  us 
be  frank.  You  should  know  this,  because  you  are 
conducting  the  investigation.  A  number  of  persons 
are  implicated.  Now  I  don't  imagine  that  you  are 
going  to  defend  Pratt,  for  instance? 

Baudouin.  I  have  nothing  to  say  about  that: 
the  investigation  will  see  to  such  matters. 

Puylaroche.     I  shan't  insist.    Nor  is  there  any 
doubt  that  the  Republican  deputies  and  high  officials 
of  the  former  cabinet  were  implicated  in  the  scheme. 
I  can  assure  you  that  I  am  not  mistaken, 
[71] 


Act  II  THE  APOSTLE 


Baudouin.     Well,  Monsieur? 

Puylaroche.  I  hasten  to  assure  you  that  I  be- 
lieve that  Monsieur  Octave's  case  is  not  in  the  least 
like  the  other's.  Of  course,  he  would  never  have 
made  up  from  his  personal  credit  a  sub-letting  of 

Baudouin.  Take  care,  Monsieur,  that  simple 
hypothesis  that  you  reject  amounts  already  to  a 
serious  charge.  One  more  word  and  I  shall  show  you 
the  door. 

Puylaroche.  Monsieur  le  ministre,  I  cannot 
allow  you  to  assume  that  tone  with  me.  If  you 
showed  me  the  door,  you  would  be  the  first  to  regret 
it.  I  beg  you,  let  us  be  calm  about  this,  or  else  let 
us  put  an  end  to  the  conversation.     [A  pause.] 

Baudouin  [giving  in  to  his  anxious  curiosity].  Sit 
down,  sit  down 

Puylaroche  [sitting  down].  Thank  you.  Really, 
you  astonish  me.  There  are  very  few  men  who 
would  be  capable  of 

Baudouin.     I  am  listening,  Monsieur. 

Puylaroche.  Well,  once  your  son's  honor  is 
open  to  question,  there  is  no  reason  why  during  the 
debates  on  the  education  law — well,  here  is  where  a 
regrettable  coincidence  comes  in,  because  your  son 
has  had  dealings  with  a  Catholic  bank:  the  Banque 
[72] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


Francaise,  to  be  exact.  The  name  of  that  bank  has 
been  pronounced  several  times  during  the  investiga- 
ion,  in  connection  with  some  attempts  at  bribery. 

Baudouin  [enraged].     Leave  this  house  at  once, 
Monsieur!     I  shall  allow  no  such  insinuations  about 


my  son 

Puylaroche  [rising].  You  are  mistaken,  Mon- 
sieur le  ministre.  I  don't  maintain  that  your  son 
is  compromised,  or  even  that  any  one  ever  attempted 
to  bribe  him;  I  simply  say  that  he  has  business  rela- 
tions— just  what,  I  don't  know — with  the  bank  I 
have  mentioned. 

Baudouin.  That's  not  true!  And  you  are 
lying! 

Puylaroche.  Oh,  I  beg  your  pardon.  We  have 
absolute  proof. 

Baudouin.     Proof  of  what? 

Puylaroche.  Of  a  payment  of  twenty  thousand 
francs  to  Monsieur  Octave  Baudouin,  Republican 
deputy,  by  a  Catholic  bank.  The  payment  was 
made  during  a  session  on  the  education  bill. 

Baudouin.     Show  me  your  proof,  Monsieur  \\ 

Puylaroche.     I  have  the  receipt  given  me  by 
your  son's  secretary  while  Monsieur  Octave  was 
away.     I  called  at  his  home. 
[73] 


Ad  II  THE  APOSTLE 


Baudouin.    You? 

puylaroche.    i. 

Baudouin.  A  receipt  by  Remillot?  That's  not 
true! 

Puylaroche.    We  have  it  at  the  bank! 

Baudouin.  It's  a  forgery !  [He  ruslies  at  Puyla- 
roche.] You  damned  scoundrel,  now  I  see  the 
trick!  You're  taking  advantage  of  a  dead  man  in 
order  to  kill  a  living  one!  You  are  trying  to  get  at 
me  through  my  son  because  you  know  very  well  I  am 
trying  to  crush  your  party,  a  party  that  dares  make 
use  of  such  a  man  as  you!  Well,  you  may  go  at 
once  and  tell  them  that  they  don't  know  Henri 
Baudouin!  And  you,  I'll  have  you  sent  to  jail  for 
this  business,  you  with  your  cross  of  the  Legion  of 
Honor!  As  to  the  people  who  sent  you,  I'm  going 
to  denounce  them  to-morrow  in  public ! 

Puylaroche.    In  public? 

Baudouin.    Yes,  in  public! 

Puylaroche.  Really,  you  are  most  extraordi- 
nary!    In  public! 

Baudouin.  Ah,  that  staggers  you.  That  simple 
little  threat  calms  you. 

Puylaroche.  Nothing  of  the  kind.  That  isn't 
the  point.  Just  think  what  it  will  cost  your  party, 
[74] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


our  party,  for  I  can  tell  you,  Monsieur  le  ministre, 
that  I,  too,  am  a  Republican. 

Baudouin  [with  a  hud  mocking  laugh].  The 
idea! 

Puylaeoche.  You  know  very  well  that  your 
adversaries  will  make  the  name  public.  It  will  be 
a  bomb — and  the  destruction  of  the  Cabinet. 

Baudouin.    The  bomb  is  not  loaded.    Throw  it! 

Puylaroche.  Now,  Monsieur  le  ministre,  don't 
lose  your  head.  Think  of  it :  it's  only  a  small  matter, 
the  kind  you  run  across  twenty  times  a  day.  Where 
would  we  end  if  every  one  were  like  you? 

Baudouin  [imperiously].    Leave  the  room ! 

Puylaroche.  Look  here,  I'm  not  trying  to  make 
it  difficult  for  you.  My  name  would  be  mixed  up  in 
all  this  just  as  yours  would,  and  I  care  something 
for  my  political  reputation.  Let  us  understand  each 
other.  I  promise  you  absolute  silence  if  you  will 
guarantee  me 

Baudouin  [a  prey  to  doubts — his  voice  a  little 
weakened].     Get  out! 

Puylaroche.     I'll  give  you  Remillot's  receipt. 

Baudouin  [feebly].    Get  out,  get  out! 

Puylaroche.  Think  well,  it's  a  most  advantage- 
ous proposition.  Grant  that  your  son  knew  nothing 
[75] 


Ad  11  THE  APOSTLE 


of  the  affair,  even;  still,  appearances  are  against  him. 
People  will  say  that  Remillot  was  only  a  blind,  and 
that  the  secretary  killed  himself  because  his  em- 
ployer threw  all  the  responsibility  on  him. 

[Baudouin  falls  into  a  chair  near  his  desk.] 
Here  is  a  photograph  of  the  original  receipt. 

[Puylaroche  goes  to  Baudouin  and  slips  tlie 
photograph  into  his  hand.] 
You  may  keep  this — see,  there's  no  trick  about  it. 
That's  Remillot's  handwriting.  Think,  what  do  I 
ask  you?  A  few  slight  modifications  in  the  new  edu- 
cation law.  Will  you  give  me  another  appointment? 
Then  we  can  go  into  detail  and  arrange  it 

Baudouin  [revolted].  This  is  too  much!  Mon- 
sieur, you're  a  low-down  trickster!  [He  presses  a 
button  on  the  desk.] 

Puylaroche.     You're  crazy! 

Baudouin.    You  scoundrel,  you  underhanded ! 

[He  seizes  a  chair.] 

Puylaroche.    You  must  be  out  of  your  mind! 

Baudouin  [swinging  the  chair  in  the  air].  Get  out, 
or  I  won't  be  responsible  for  what  I  do. 

Enter  the  Servant. 

[To  the  Servant.]    Take  him  out. 
176] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


The  Servant.     Go,  Monsieur. 

Puylaroche  [to  the  Servant].     Don't  touch  me! 

Enter  Octave. 

Octave.    What's  the  matter? 

Puylaroche.     Ask  your  father. 

Baudouin.     Throw  him  out!     Throw  him  out! 

Puylaroche  [to  Baudouin].     You'll  pay  for  this! 

[He  goes  out. 

Octave  [trying  to  retain  Puylaroche].  Wait  a 
moment!    Don't  go.     I  don't  understand 

Baudouin  [running  to  Octave  and  bringing  him 
back  into  the  room].     Octave!     Octave!    Octave! 

Octave.  Father,  this  is  ridiculous,  mad!  What 
are  you  doing?  That  man  is  a  dangerous  man,  very 
dangerous. 

Baudouin.    Do  you  know  him? 

Octave.  Why  did  he  threaten  you?  What  did 
he  want  here?     Why  did  he  come  to  see  you? 

Baudouin.     Do  you  know  him? 

Octave.  Slightly,  the  way  every  one  knows  him: 
he's  a  colleague  of  mine.  What  did  he  have  to  say  to 
you? 

[Enter  Clotilde,  through  the  door  leading  into 
the  living-rooms.] 

[77] 


Ad  II  THE  APOSTLE 


Clotilde.     What's  the  matter? 

Octave.     Please  go,  Clotilde. 

Baudouin.  Is  it  true  that  you  received  money 
from  the  Banque  Francaise? 

Octave.     From  the  Banque  Francaise?    Does  he 

say   that?       That   I    accepted    money   from ? 

Did  Puylaroche  say  that? 

Baudouin.     Is  it  true?    Yes  or  no? 

Octave.     No,  it  is  not  true.     [A  pause.] 

Baudouin.  How  about  your  secretary?  You 
say  nothing  about  him? 

Octave.    My  secretary?    What  about  him? 

Baudouin.  He  committed  suicide.  His  body 
has  been  found  in  a  ditch  in  the  Bois  de  Boulogne. 
[A  pause.] 

Octave.    Damned  fool! 

Baudouin.  Is  that  all  you  have  to  say?  A  man 
who  is  intimately  bound  up  in  your  affairs,  in  your 
private  life,  and  you  call  him  a  "damned  fool?" 
You  don't  even  ask  what  his  motive  was,  and  you 
don't  seem  to  realize  the  danger  of  this  coincidence, 
nor  the  very  serious  results  it  may  have  for  you. 
For  the  love  of  God,  say  something  else !  You  don't 
know  what  I've  seen! 

Octave.    What?    No,  I  don't  know— 
[78] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  11 


Baudouin  [handing  him  the  photograph  of  the  re- 
ceipt].   Look! 

Octave.    What's  that? 

Baudouin.  Facsimile  of  a  receipt  for  twenty 
thousand  francs,  signed  in  your  name  by  your  secre- 
tary, on  your  own  letterhead.  That  rascal  Puyla- 
roche  has  threatened  to  publish  this  if  I  don't  modify 
my  program  on  the  education  law. 

Clotilde.    Let  me  see  it! 

Baudouin.  Do  you  recognize  Remillot's  hand- 
writing? 

Octave.  Yes,  yes,  it's  his.  There's  no  doubt 
about  that. 

Baudouin.    Well,  Octave?    [A  pause.] 

Octave.  Well,  it's  all  very  simple.  I  am  the 
victim  of  a  conspiracy  on  the  part  of  the  Clericals. 
That  little  scoundrel  is  an  accomplice  of  theirs ! 

Clotilde.    Stop  it! 

Octave.  "Stop  it?"  It  seems  to  me  that  the 
facts  are  very  clear.  The  Banque  Francaise  now 
possesses  this  receipt  for  twenty  thousand  francs; 
this  sum,  which  it  pretends  to  have  given  to  me,  went 
to  Remillot 

Clotilde.     Don't  believe  him ! 

Octave.  The  proof  of  his  guilt  is  that  he  killed 
[79] 


Act  II  THE  APOSTLE 


himself  just  before  the  scandal,  when  he  would 
have  been  discovered.  The  truth  is  self-evident, 
and  the  public  will  not  be  mistaken. 

Clotilde.  Oh!  [Baudouin  and  Octave  sud- 
denly turn  to  her.]  Let  me  tell  the  truth!  I  am  the 
only  one  who  knows  it;  I  know  why  Remillot  killed 
himself.  [To  Baudouin.]  I  knew  the  moment  you 
told  me. 

Baudouin.    Why? 

Octave.    Tell  us! 
[She  hesitates.] 

Baudouin.    Well,  tell  us! 

Octave.     Go  ahead!    Tell  us,  will  you? 

Clotilde  [making  a  sudden  decision].  Remillot 
killed  himself  because  of  me. 

Octave  [at  first  dumbfounded].  What  are  you  say- 
ing?   Do   you   mean    to    say   that   Remillot ? 

[Collecting  his  unts.]  Oh,  the  idea!  A  little  whelp 
like  that! 

Clotilde  [protesting].    Octave! 

Octave.  A  pretty  love  story  for  a  diversion! 
To  put  that  little  puppy  on  a  romantic  pedestal ! 

Clotilde  [coldly].  Remillot  killed  himself  because 
of  me. 

Octave.    Ha,  why  do  you  invent  this  story?  Do 
[80] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


you,  too,  want  to  ruin  me?  Are  you  with  my  ene- 
mies? 

Clotilde.  I  want  only  the  truth,  and  that  is 
what  I  am  now  telling.     I'm  not  trying  to  recall  some 

sad  memory [Repeating  in  a  thick  voice.]  Remil- 

lot  killed  himself  because  of  me. 

Baudouin.     But  explain!   Tell  us!   How  did ? 

Clotilde.  I'll  tell  you  the  whole  story  if  you 
want  to  hear  it. 

Octave.  That's  enough — you  don't  take  her 
seriously,  do  you? 

Baudouin.    Of  course  I  do.    Tell  us. 

Octave.    This  is  too  much ! 

Baudouin  [to  Octave].  Keep  still!  [To  Clo- 
tilde.]    I  am  listening. 

Clotilde.    When  I  felt  that  I  was  left  utterly 

alone    in    my    home [Octave     starts.]    Yes, 

Octave,  your  father  made  me  tell  about  that — 
Remillot  was  the  first  to  notice  my  loneliness.  Like 
the  real  cynic  you  are,  you  confided  in  him — you 
forced  your  confidence  on  him — about  all  your 
debauchery,  and  even  at  times  made  him  a  witness  of 
it.  You  made  him  take  orders  from  your  mistress 
when  you  were  regaling  yourself  with  her  at  ban- 
quets. Then  Remillot  returned  here  and  dined  with 
[81] 


Act  II  THE  APOSTLE 


me — I  was  alone  at  the  table.  He  sat  down  opposite 
me,  dumb  and  very  shy,  an  accomplice  against  his 
will,  of  Octave's  infidelity.  Then  his  manly  nature 
showed  itself  and  he  protested  against  you  and  pitied 
me.  Finally  that  pity  and  tenderness  turned  to  love 
— a  heartbreaking  love.  The  poor  boy  tried  so  hard 
to  hide  his  real  feelings  from  me.  You  know  me; 
I'm  not  a  flirt,  and  it  was  a  long  time  before  I  noticed 
anything.  But  one  day  I  discovered  the  truth;  you 
were  with  her !  I  waited  for  you  the  whole  evening  in 
your  office;  Remillot  was  busy  there,  too.  All  at  once 
he  stood  up,  after  having  come  across  some  sentence 
in  one  of  your  speeches,  the  one  on — [sarcastically] — 
Lay  Morality,  he  launched  into  a  fierce  attack  on  you. 
I  defended  you — your  very  faults  made  it  a  duty — but 
Remillot  refused  to  retract  a  single  syllable.  He  was 
so  furious  that  he  seemed  to  be  angry  with  me.  I 
can  still  see  him:  his  lips  were  white  and  his  eyes 
flashing.  It  seemed  as  if  some  undiscovered  force 
were  rising  up  in  him.  I  see  that  silhouette  of  the 
young  puritan — he  was  handsome,  poor  little  Re- 
millot! Then  all  of  a  sudden  I  understood  every- 
thing; I  couldn't  believe  it.  That  child  was  in  love 
with  me!  Oh,  I  know,  I  should  have  left  him  at 
once,  but  he  spoke  to  me  so  pathetically  about  his 
[82] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


loneliness,  he  recalled  so  vividly  what  our  home  was 
before  the  downfall,  how  happy  we  were,  you  and  I, 
that  I  was  fascinated,  although  I  was  angry  with  him 
even  if  he  was  telling  the  truth.  I  was  angry  that 
such  words  were  coming  from  the  lips  of  any  one  but 
you!    [A  pause.] 

Octave.  So  he  loved  you,  the  little  rat!  He  was 
careful  about  it,  the  damned !  He  wasn't  satis- 
fied with  spying  on  me  for  the  Jesuits;  he  wanted  to 
steal  my  wife  from  me! 

Clotilde.  Naturally!  You  can't  imagine  a 
man  loving  a  woman  without  wanting  to  take  her — 
no,  you  can't  think  of  love  without  soiling  it!  Let 
me  tell  you,  he  never — never,  mind  you — raised  his 
eyes  to  me!    He  loved  me  with  all  the  strength  and 

purity  of  his  young  heart — respectfully You're 

surprised!  There  still  are  some  of  that  sort  of  men 
left! 

Octave.  I  really  admire  you !  How  well  you  de- 
fend him,  glorify  him,  your  little  Remillot !  Do  you 
know  what  that  proves?  It  proves  that  you  loved 
him  yourself! 

Clotilde.  If  I  had  loved  him  he  would  not  have 
killed  himself! 

Octave.  He  did  kill  himself — because  you  re- 
[83] 


Act  II  THE  APOSTLE 


fused  him.  And  if  you  refused  him,  then  that  proves 
that  he  wanted  you! 

Clotilde.  What  I  refused  him,  what  he  begged 
me  for  was  a  little  pity,  a  simple  proof  of  kindness, 
and  that  I  would  not  give  him.  He  wanted  a  smile 
that  would  tell  him:  "I  don't  love  you,  but  I  am 
suffering  because  I  make  you  suffer."  Well,  I  didn't 
give  that  much  help.  I  was  harsh,  cruel — I  didn't 
know  it  until  it  was  too  late.  [Her  voice  becomes 
choked.]  It  was  for  your  sake  I  did  that!  I 
kept  everything  for  you,  you  who  kept  nothing  for 
me.  I  was  wearing  myself  out  trying  to  make  you 
my  perfect  ideal,  while  you  were  parading  your- 
self in  public  with  women — meantime  that  poor 
child  was  dying  of  despair  for  a  single  word  from 
me!  [She  throws  herself  into  a  chair,  shaken  with 
sobs.] 

Octave.  You  hear  her,  Father,  you  hear  her? 
She  is  now  regretting  she  didn't  love  that  little  fool, 
that  little  idiot 

Clotilde  [rising].  Take  care,  Octave.  If  you 
insult  his  memory  I  may  feel  a  great  deal  more  for 
him  now  than  I  did  when  he  was  living. 

Baudouin  [intervening].  Stop  it  now,  keep  still, 
both  of  you.  [A  pause.]  Listen,  Clotilde,  what  you 
[84] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


have  told  me  seems  hardly  credible.  You  swear  that 
is  the  absolute  truth? 

Clotilde.     I  do. 

Octave.  But  I  tell  you  not  to  listen  to  her. 
She's  making  it  all  up.     Ask  her  for  a  single  proof! 

Clotilde  [taken  aback  at  this  doubt].    The  proof 

that ?    You  don't  believe  me?    Let  me  give  you 

one.  That  Friday  evening,  when  Octave  was  out, 
Remillot  asked  me  to  come  to  see  him.  I  thought  it 
was  a  matter  of  business.  I  went  into  the  office. 
He  was  perfectly  calm.  He  asked  my  permission 
for  the  last  time  to  let  him  love  me — at  least  to 
feel  some  sisterly  affection  for  him.  I  was  just  on 
the  point  of  leaving  when  he  ran  to  me  and,  not 
giving  me  a  chance  even  to  cry  out,  he  grasped  my 
wrist — I  never  knew  he  was  so  strong.  All  the  despair 
of  his  soul  was  in  his  hand.  He  begged  me  to  listen 
to  him:  his  whole  life  depended  on  my  answer.  I 
hardly  understood  him.  Still,  it  was  scarcely  any- 
thing that  he  asked — I  can't  explain — he  was  without 
parents  or  relatives — I  was  his  "Madonna  of  soli- 
tude." [To  Octave,  who  shrugs  his  shoulders.]  I'm 
not  telling  all  this  for  the  sake  of  exploiting  myself, 
only  I  want  to  rid  myself  of  that  idea  of  adoration — 
that  nightmare!  But  that  day  I  understood  noth- 
[85] 


Act  II  THE  APOSTLE 


ing,  and  I  was  merciless.  "For  the  last  time,  will 
you  listen  to  me?  This  is  the  last  time  I  shall 
speak  to  you. "  "Leave  me,  or  I'll  call  for  help. 
You  behave  like  a  little  saint,  but  now  I  know  what 
you  want!"  He  trembled  like  a  leaf  and  then  ran 
quickly  out  without  looking  back.  I  had  no  idea 
what  he  was  going  to  do ! 

Baudouin.     Is  it  possible ! 

Octave.  Nonsense,  your  whole  behavior  proves 
that  you  were  his  mistress!  You  did  give  yourself! 
You  were  his!    You  still  love  the  dirty  little ! 

Clotilde  [outraged].  Oh,  oh,  oh!  Yes,  I  do  love 
him!  All  the  power  that  your  hate  inspires  in  me 
has  turned  into  love  for  him!  When  he  was  alive 
I  felt  only  irritation  and  pity;  now  I  love  him 
with  all  the  love  I  did  not  feel  before,  for  a  past 
that  never  existed!  I  love  him!  Do  you  hear?  I 
love  him,  I  love  him! 

Octave.  Now,  Father,  you  can't  deny You're 

a  witness  of  her  outrageous  conduct! 

Baudouin  [as  if  emerging  from  deep  thought]. 
Octave,  Octave,  you  know  very  well  that  young  man 
was  never  guilty  of  what  you  accuse  him  of.  I  remem- 
ber him  distinctly;  it  seems  as  if  I  could  see  him  now. 
I  knew  him  better  than  you  did,  and  I  knew  him 
[86] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


before  you  did.  I  was  the  one  who  recommended 
him  to  you.  I  have  known  him  from  his  early  child- 
hood. His  father  told  me  proudly:  "My  little 
Rene  has  never  told  a  lie!"  And  I  watched  him 
grow  up:  honest  and  straight.  He  came  to  consult 
me  when  I  was  writing  for  the  "Avant  Garde" 
about  the  minor  points  in  his  articles  when  he  was 
afraid  of  obscuring  his  thought  or  making  a  false 
impression.  His  duty  was  everything  to  him,  as  it 
was  to  us  of  a  former  generation;  that  was  what 
attracted  me  to  him.  His  conscience,  his  ability, 
would  have  made  him  the  idol  of  the  party:  what 
you  should  have  been!  I  deeply  regret  that  I  did 
not  do  my  duty  by  that  boy.  Now  I  appreciate  his 
full  value :  he  has  been  revealed  to  me,  and  seems  to 
cry  out  to  me — ah,  if  we  could  only  appreciate  people 
before  they  died!    [A  pause.] 

Octave.  Yes,  yes.  A  little  fellow  you  saw  only 
once  every  two  weeks  has  now  become  a  god !  You 
think  nothing  of  me,  your  son! 

Baudouin.  You  dare  say  that  to  me!  I  have 
just  learned  about  your  behavior,  your  mad  ex- 
travagances, your  debts  that  are  ruining  your  home 
and  family.    Every  one  knew  it  except  me. 

Octave.    Oh,  let's  drop  that  nonsense! 
[87] 


Ad  II  THE  APOSTLE 


Baudouin.  And  I  had  such  implicit  faith  in  you ! 
I  was  surer  of  you  than  of  myself.  You  were  my 
living  conscience!  You  call  that  nonsense!  And 
then  your  intimacy  with  that  scoundrel  Pratt — 
your  comradeship  in  vice,  the  corruption  of  your 
private  life  that  is  now  beginning  to  be  made  public. 
I  don't  believe  that  yet,  I  refuse  to  believe  it.  It 
seems  these  walls  are  crumbling!  It  can't  be  my 
son !     [A  long  pause.] 

Octave.  Thank  you,  Clotikle,  for  what  you  have 
done! 

Clotilde.  I  only  tried  to  defend  you.  Your 
father  asked  me  all  sorts  of  questions.  I  assured  him 
that  your  honor  was  not  touched! 

Baudouin.  Honor  not  touched?  I  don't  know 
about  that!  Since  you've  been  talking — your  whole 
attitude — your  lies — I  am  beginning  to  see  to  the 
bottom  of  it  all.     Deep  down  in  your  soul  I  see  awful 

things I  am  now  afraid  to  look  at  you.     Now, 

let's  put  an  end  to  this  torturing  doubt.  If  Remillot 
is  innocent,  then  you  are  guilty:  is  that  so? 

Octave.    No,  but — the  way  you  ask  questions 

Why  do  you  think  I  am  guilty?  Here — this — this 
proof  is  in  my  hands!  There  is  his  confession :  signed! 

Baudouin.  That's  not  true.  Remillot  would 
188] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


never  have  sold  himself  to  the  enemy — or  receive  a 
bribe ! 

Octave.  The  idea!  But,  see,  this  is  his  hand- 
writing.    You  can't  deny  that! 

Clotilde.  He  did  it  for  you  in  perfectly  good 
faith.  He  was  caught  in  a  trap.  The  Banque 
Francaise  made  him  sign  it  in  order  to  have  a  weapon 
against  you. 

Octave.  Exactly  what  I  say — and  he  was  in  the 
trick ! 

Clotilde.  That's  not  true.  Remillot  was  acting 
in  good  faith.  You  were  away  then  on  purpose,  so 
that  he  would  have  to  sign  for  you,  and  that  you 
might  lay  all  the  blame  on  him. 

Octave.    Clotilde! 

Clotilde.     That  is  the  truth! 

Octave.  It  is,  is  it?  Do  you  believe  that?  I  have 
the  right  to  say  that  it  is  a  lie,  and  I'll  do  my  best 
to  maintain  that.     Every  appearance  is  in  my  favor. 

Baudouin  [indignantly].  Every  appearance!  Yes, 
appearances  are  in  your  favor — they  can  save  your 
face,  but  would  you  consent  to  soil  the  good  name 
of  the  dead? 

Octave.  Why  should  I  trouble  about  that  little 
fool? 

[89] 


Ad  II  THE  APOSTLE 


Baudouin.  Don't  you  understand  me?  You 
admit  he  is  innocent,  yet  would  you  consent  to  dis- 
honor him  in  the  eyes  of  the  world? 

Octave.  But  I  tell  you  he  was  guilty.  What's 
he  to  me,  then? 

Baudoin.     What ? 

Octave.  Isn't  he  dead?  What  difference  can  it 
possibly  make  to  him? 

Baudouin.  I  see!  Are  you  out  of  your  mind? 
Have  you  lost  your  sense  of  decency,  or  am  I  seeing 
my  son  change  into  a  demon  before  my  very  eyes? 
Is  this  his  moral  suicide?     [A  pause.] 

Octave.  You  are  mad!  What's  all  this  senti- 
mental rot  to  do  with  the  case?  Is  it  merely  a  question 
of  me  or  Remillot?  No,  it  concerns  us  all — it  may  de- 
termine whether  you  are  to  remain  in  the  Cabinet — 
it  concerns  our  families.  [To  his  urife.]  The  good 
name  and  the  future  of  our  children.  Now,  do  you 
see  how  serious  it  is?  [To  his  father.]  Are  you  going 
to  accept  Puylaroche's  offer?  Shall  we  come  to 
terms  with  the  enemy?  [Baudouin  makes  a  gesture 
of  indignant  protestation.]  Very  well;  if  my  name 
appears  in  the  papers  without  my  complete  justifica- 
tion, none  of  us  can  live  a  day  longer  in  Paris.  It 
means  we  must  all  take  a  train  to  Brussels  within 
[90] 


THE  APOSTLE  Ad  II 


twenty-four  hours;  we'll  be  hooted  out  by  every 
party.  Do  you  want  that?  Do  you  realize  the 
situation?     [A  pause.] 

Baudouin  [crushed].    Do  I  want ?     I  want — 

I  don't — don't  know  what!  [He  falls  into  a  chair.] 
What  is  certain  is  that  I  refuse  to  shield  you,  cover 
up  your  crimes,  and  that  I  am  going  to  resign  at 
once 

Octave.    Resign? 

Baudouin.     Immediately. 

Octave.  Which  is  a  confession  that  you  have 
nothing  to  do  with  me !  That  will  only  confirm  their 
charges ! 

Baudouin.     Defend  yourself  as  you  like. 

Octave.  You  are  really  ridiculous!  Here  we 
have  in  our  hands  every  possible  means  for  a  com- 
plete justification;  and  we  can  win  public  opinion. 
Why,  you  don't  have  to  say  a  word:  all  you  have 
to  do  is  to  keep  still — I'll  take  care  of  the  rest.  Now 
you  want  to  ruin  us  all  for  some  idiotic  moral 
scruple  or  other,  some  out-of-date 

Baudouin.     What  are  you  saying? 

Octave.     What  every  one  else  would  say  in  my 

place.    You're  really  exasperating,  with  your  saintly 

honesty 

[91] 


Ad  II  THE  APOSTLE 


Baudouin.  A  man  who  can  talk  that  way  is 
guilty!     [He  seizes  his  son  by  the  throat.] 

Octave  [violently  disengaging  himself].  Well,  I 
am — and  what  of  it?  [Baudouin  and  Clotilde  are 
thunderstruck.]  Was  I  bribed?  So  is  every  one. 
Among  all  the  men  you  call  your  friends  there  aren't 
ten  with  clean  slates.  I  belong  to  my  age,  and  I  do 
as  every  one  else  does!  Only  they  don't  admit  it!  I 
at  least  have  the  courage  to  do  that !  I  tear  off  those 
rags  of  prejudice  which  they  try  to  drape  round 
themselves.  I  have  only  one  life  to  live,  and  before 
I  die  I  want  to  live  it  to  the  fullest  extent;  I  want  all 
the  honors  and  the  pleasures,  everything  that  is 
worth  the  struggle  for  existence.  I  have  all  that  now 
between  my  hands,  and  I  don't  intend  to  allow  a  dead 
man's  ghost  to  stand  in  my  way. 

Baudouin  [as  if  coming  to  himself].  You  were 
right:  that  little  secretary  was  my  son,  and  I  am  now 
defending  his  rights  against  the  usurping,  illegitimate 
son  who  gives  the  lie  to  all  my  principles.  Since 
you  are  one  of  those  thieves  who  are  now  robbing 
the  Republic,  I  shall  at  least  accomplish  a  mission 
which  is  sacred  to  me,  and  punish  you. 

Octave.  On  what  grounds?  What  the  devil 
are  these  curates*  phrases  doing  in  the  mouth  of  an 
[  »*  ] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  II 


atheist?  Does  your  conscience  demand  my  punish- 
ment? Your  sacred  mission?  The  rights  of  the 
dead?  Does  death  have  any  rights?  One  would 
think  you  still  believed  in  the  immortality  of  the 
soul,  and  the  Decalogue,  and  all  those  damned  silly 
ideas  you've  been  working  forty  years  to  destroy. 
It's  all  as  dead  as  the  notion  of  God! 

Baudouin.     Don't   say  another  word,  you ! 

Your  cheap  cynicism  isn't  deceiving  me!  And  you 
know  as  well  as  I  do  that  the  instinct  of  decency, 
that  the  laws  of  morality 

Octave  [repeating  as  his  father  did  in  the  first  act]. 
Nonsense,  nonsense!     [He  darts  toward  the  door.] 

Clotilde.     Where  are  you  going? 

Octave.     To  defend  myself.     This  is  my  affair! 
[He    goes    out.    Baudouin,    overcome,    sinks 
back;  Clotilde  screams  and  runs  to  him.] 


Curtain 


[93] 


ACT  III 


ACT  III 

The  scene  is  the  same. 

The  following  day,  toward  evening.  Baudouin  is 
reclining  in  a  chair,  mechanically  reading  a  news- 
paper, the  "  Quotidion"  as  if  to  impress  himself 
especially  with  the  evidence.  On  the  first  page  is  a 
cut  of  Remillot's  receipt.  Eugenie  stands  by 
Baudouin's  side,  trying  to  distract  him. 

Eugenie.  Come,  now,  Baudouin,  don't  read  that 
paper !  You've  read  it  through  a  hundred  times  since 
this  morning,  and  you're  literally  poisoning  yourself 
with  that  infamy.  The  doctor  said  you  must  rest. 
You  don't  want  to  have  another  attack,  do  you? 

Baudouin  [reading].  "Monsieur  Baudouin  the 
younger  sells  himself  to  the  enemies  of  lay  educa- 
tion"  

Eugenie.  But  it's  not  true!  I  tell  you,  Bau- 
douin, it's  not  true!  What  does  that  photograph 
prove?  It's  not  signed  by  Octave — Remillot  was 
the  one  who  sold  himself. 

[97] 


Act  III  THE  APOSTLE 


Baudouin  [protesting  with  all  his  power].  No,  no! 
Don't  say  that! 

Eugenie.  Now,  Henri,  stop  this — it's  all  a  fear- 
ful nightmare.  You  really  must  have  lost  your 
senses.  You  tell  me  that  Octave  is  unworthy  to  be 
your  son,  and  when  I  ask  you  what  he  has  done,  you 
talk  about  debts  and  his  mistress.  Can't  you  for- 
give him?  He's  done  nothing  to  ruin  his  name  and 
honor!  Parents' love  isn't  mistaken.  We  know  our 
child!  People  don't  commit  crimes  that  way,  all  of 
a  sudden.  You  don't  mean  to  tell  me  he  has 
been  lying  to  us  all  these  years!  You  have  no  right 
to  say  that,  and  you  can't  prove  it.  Answer  me! 
What  happened  here  yesterday?  What  are  you 
hiding  from  me,  you  and  Clotilde?  Where  is  Oc- 
tave?    I  can't  stand  this. 

Baudouin.  Please  leave  me,  Mother,  I  want  to 
be  alone,  absolutely  alone 

Eugenie.  But  there  are  people  in  the  ante- 
chamber: newspaper  men,  your  secretary 

Baudouin.     No  one,  no  one 

Eugenie.  And  they  can't  even  telephone  you. 
Some  one  was  sent  from  the  Cabinet  office  to  usk 
whether  your  telephone  was  out  of  order.- 

Baudouin.  I've  taken  off  the  receiver.  [Eugenie 
[98] 


THE  APOSTLE  Ad  HI 


turns  on  the  electric  light.]  What  are  you  doing?  I 
don't  want  any  light,  and  I  don't  want  to  see  any 
one.     Put  it  out,  I  tell  you,  put  it  out! 

Eugenie  [extinguishing  the  light].  It's  so  gloomy 
— you  can't  see  a  thing.  [There  are  insistent  knocks 
at  the  door  of  the  antechamber.  Eugenie  goes  toward 
it] 

Baudouin.     Don't  let  any  one  in. 

Eugenie  [at  the  door].    What  is  it,  Jules? 

Servant's  Voice.  Madame,  the  man  from  the 
"Avant  Garde,"  who  insists  on  giving  the  paper  to 
Monsieur  le  ministre 

Michu's  Voice.  It's  me,  Madame  Baudouin! 
I've  brought  the  extra,  all  about  the  search  in 
Remillot's  house! 

Eugenie  [  turning  toward  Baudouin].  It's  Michu 
with  an  extra  edition  of  the  "Avant  Garde" — 
there's  been  a  search  in  Remillot's  rooms. 

Baudouin  [starting].  What's  that?  A  search  of 
Remillot's  rooms?  Tell  Michu  to  come  in.  Hurry 
up,  now! 

[Eugenie  unlocks  the  door  and  admits  Michu.] 

Michu.     Victory,    Monsieur    le    ministre!    The 
Clericals  are  floored!     We've  got  their  skin,  Mon- 
sieur le  ministre,  we've  got  their  skin! 
[99] 


Act  III  THE  APOSTLE 


Baudouin.     What  is  it? 

Michu.  Don't  you  know?  The  police  have 
searched  Remillot's  rooms;  they  found  two  thousand 
francs  hidden  in  a  drawer — that  was  what  was  left 
over  from  the  bribe  he  got.  But  that  isn't  all:  they 
found  out  he's  been  betting  on  the  races,  and  found 
some  tickets  for  the  "Pari  Mutuel."  And  then 
everything  was  turned  upside  down.  [He  whispers 
in  Baudouin's  ear.]  They  got  some  nasty  pictures 
on  the  mantelpiece! 

Baudouin  [dumbfounded].    That  can't  be  true! 

Michu.  Here,  look  at  this  article  in  the  Avant 
Garde!  [He  searches  through  his  pockets  and  takes 
the  paper  from  one  of  them,  unfolds  it  and  hands  it  to 
Baudouin.]  What  do  you  think  of  that?  "Justifi- 
cation of  Baudouin  the  younger — Guilt  of  Remillot." 

Baudouin  [to  Eugenie],  Turn  on  the  light! 
[She  does  so.] 

Michu.  Ah,  you  didn't  know  that  little  fellow, 
Monsieur  le  ministre.  He  made  believe  he  was  a 
little  saint,  but  we  know  he  was  a  Tartufe,  a  nasty 

little,  vicious Why,  on  his  bed,  which  wasn't 

made  up,  there  was  some  lady's  underwear  with  pink 
ribbons 


Baudouin.    No,  no! 

f  100 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  III 


Michu.  You  wouldn't  have  believed  it,  Monsieur 
le  ministre.  There!  Look!  In  the  middle  of  the 
page — your  son  even  saved  him  from  jail  for  a  lot  of 
things  that  he'd  proved  against  him 

Baudouin.     Who  said  that? 

Michu.  Why,  Monsieur  Octave — he's  telling  the 
whole  story.  Didn't  you  know  that,  Monsieur  le 
ministre?  Ah,  Monsieur  Octave's  your  son,  sure 
enough — why,  I  tell  you,  he's  too  generous,  too  good ! 
When  I  think  of  those  low-down  Clericals  and  this 
story  they  made  up  so's  they  could  knock  out  our 
"  Father  Conscience ! " 

Baudouin.  Don't  use  that  name — at  least  just 
now! 

Michu.  But  I  will — I  must;  'cause  you  live  here 
on  the  fifth  floor  when  you  could  sleep  in  a  silk 
bed! 

Baudouin.     Go  away,  Michu!    Go  away! 

Michu.  Yes,  yes,  I'll  leave  you,  I  know  this  dirty 
trick  is  making  you  ill,  but  let  me  tell  you,  I'm 
mighty  glad  to  've  brought  you  this  good  news !  Ah, 
boss,  this  is  finer  than  the  Fourth  of  September ! 

[He  goes  out. 

Baudouin.  Did  you  read  it?  Did  you  see? 
Did  you  hear? 

[101] 


Ad  III  THE  APOSTLE 


Eugenie.  But  this  means  Octave's  justification! 
Little  Remillot  was  the  guilty  one 

Baudouin.  Nonsense !  I  tell  you,  I  am  not  mis- 
taken! This  is  the  lowest  thing  Octave  has  yet 
done!  He  is  the  one,  without  a  doubt,  who  insti- 
gated the  police  search !  He  has  taken  advantage  of 
the  situation  to  whitewash  himself  in  public — and 
after  confessing  his  guilt 

Eugenie.    Confessing  his  guilt?    Where?   When? 

Baudouin.  I  didn't  want  to  tell  you,  his  mother, 
the  worst  of  it  all,  but  now  you  must  know  that  our 
boy  is  a  scoundrel.  His  splendid  integrity  was  only 
a  mask;  I  saw  him  without  the  mask — he  is  a  brute! 
I  nearly  lost  my  mind !  Honor — life  itself — what  are 
they  now? 

Eugenie.  But  what  has  he  done?  What  has  he 
done? 

Baudouin.  Octave  confessed  everything  to  me: 
his  treason  to  the  party,  the  twenty  thousand  francs, 
little  Remillot's  innocence — he  confessed  it  all  and 
revelled  in  his  own  filth 

Eugenie  [with  a  cry  of  anguish].  That's  not  true! 
It's  impossible! 

Baudouin.  And  now  he  is  violating  the  sanctity 
of  a  tomb,  ruining  the  good  name  of  a  dead  man  in 
[  102] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  III 


order  to  save  himself.    This  is  a  matter  of  common 

law,  and  I  am  going  to  have  him  arrested [He 

starts  to  go  to  the  telephone.] 

Eugenie  [taking  him  in  her  arms].    You're  mad! 

Baudouin.  I'm  going  to  telephone  to  the  prefect 
of  police. 

Eugenie.     And  have  Octave  arrested! 

Baudouin.  I  am  a  cabinet  minister,  and  I  have 
promised  to  punish  the  guilty  and  disinfect  the  Re- 
public. I  am  going  to  keep  my  pledged  word,  and 
see  justice  done. 

Eugenie  [savagely].  What  do  I  care  about  justice 
when  my  child  is  in  danger? 

Baudouin  [outraged].     What  are  you  saying? 

Eugenie.  You  heard  what  I  said.  Do  you 
think  me  infamous?  I  don't  care.  You  have  your 
principles — well,  I  have  mine:  I  love  my  son!  No 
matter  if  he  is  what  you  say,  let  him  fall  a  thousand 
times  as  low,  he'll  always  be  flesh  of  my  flesh.  I'll 
love  him  all  the  more  just  because  of  what  he  is 
making  me  suffer,  because  of  the  shame  he  is  inflict- 
ing on  me.  A  father  can't  understand  that!  You 
loved  him  only  because  of  his  success — it  flattered 
your  vanity,  your  personal  pride — in  other  words, 

you  never  really  loved  him  at  all ■ 

[103] 


Ad  III  THE  APOSTLE 


Baudouin.     Oh ! 

Eugenie.  No,  you  don't  love  him!  You  don't 
love  him! 

Baudouin  [trembling  ivith  all  the  violence  of  his  des- 
perate love  for  his  son].  I  loved  Octave  passionately, 
as  no  father  ever  loved  his  son!  But  I  loved  him 
for  his  purity,  for  that  innate  nobility  which  I  thought 
he  possessed.  I  loved  him,  not  selfishly,  but  with 
the  hope  that  he  would  grow  to  be  bigger  and  finer 
than  I  am,  that  he  would  go  on  and  continue  my 
work.  I  loved  him  the  way  a  person  loves  an  ideal 
which  one  must  give  to  the  world !  I  loved  him  more 
than  my  own  life,  because  his  soul  and  mind  were 
my  own !     There  is  a  father's  love ! 

Eugenie.  But  if  you  love  him,  save  him !  If  you 
allow  him  to  be  dishonored  in  public  you  will  kill 
in  him  all  hopes  of  moral  betterment.  He'll  end  his 
life  in  exile,  far  away  from  us,  a  branded  man  trying 
to  hide  his  shame  in  the  lower  depths!  Let's  try  to 
give  him  a  new  conscience,  and  build  a  new  life  for 
him.  His  heart  is  so  good — yes,  yes,  it  is!  Do  you 
remember,  when  he  was  little?  One  day  you  were 
sick — we  were  in  the  country — he  ran  all  the  way  to 
town  to  get  a  doctor.  When  he  came  back,  all  tired 
out,  but  proud  of  what  he  had  done,  he  shouted,  as 
[  104  J 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  III 


he  stood  at  your  bedside:  "I've  saved  Papa!  I've 
saved  Papa!" 

Baudouin.  You're  taking  a  cowardly  advantage 
of  me — cowardly. 

Eugenie.  Then  you  consent?  Yes?  You  con- 
sent? 

Baudouin.  Oh,  I  can't.  Don't  you  understand 
what  torture  I'm  suffering?  Who  could  have  fore- 
seen  ?    My  poor  wife 

Eugenie.  Henri,  Henri !  [  The  two  old  people  kiss, 
then  sob  for  a  moment  in  silence.] 

Baudouin  [pulling  himself  together] .  No,  I  cannot ! 
You  have  no  rights  over  my  conscience  as  a  man. 
If  I  gave  in  to  you  it  would  mean  a  denial  of  all  the 
principles  I  have  stood  for.  I  should  be  an  accom- 
plice in  my  son's  crime.  God  knows  how  deeply 
he  is  implicated,  and  how  many  are  in  this  search 
business.  Why,  it's  a  matter  for  the  ordinary  police 
court — what  rottenness !  This  time  I  can't  stand  up 
for  him :  I've  got  to  stop  it !  [He  again  tries  to  reach  the 
telephone.] 

Eugenie  [preventing  him  again].  Are  you  going 
to  do  that? 

Baudouin.     I  have  decided. 

Eugenie  [desperately].  Very  well,  then,  let  me  tell 
[105] 


Ad  III  THE  APOSTLE 


you  everything — all  the  horrible  agony  I'm  suffering, 
all  I  have  been  suffering  ever  since  you  told  me  the 
awful  facts.     Are  you  sure  Octave  is  guilty? 

Baudouin.     What  are  you  talking  about? 

Eugenie.  Just  think  how  we  have  brought  him 
up!  The  poor  boy!  You  never  had  any  time  to 
spend  with  him;  the  most  you  ever  did  was  to  correct 
his  class  papers.  You  were  so  sure  he  would  grow 
up  to  be  like  you.  And  my  love  and  tenderness  were 
so  blind  that  I  never  thought  of  anything  but  his 
pleasures;  I  let  him  do  everything  he  wanted.  And 
when  he  grew  up,  what  company  we  allowed  him  to 
keep!  I  have  read  the  report  of  your  investigation: 
what  "nice  points!"  What  immoral  morality! 
When  he  did  as  the  others  did,  what  idea  had  he 
whether  he  was  honest  or  dishonest  ?  An  honest  man 
and  a  thief  are  so  much  alike  nowadays ! 

Baudouin.    But  just  because  the  others 

Eugenie.  Henri,  Henri,  I  see  more  clearly  now 
in  the  light  of  my  remorse!  I  educated  my  son  with- 
out any  living  faith,  without  strict  rules,  without 
first  arming  him  against  himself.  I  let  him  do  every- 
thing for  his  brain,  and  I  did  nothing  for  his  con- 
science! 

Baudouin.    Are  you  crazy? 
[106] 


THE  APOSTLE  Ad  III 


Eugenie.  I'm  not  blaming  you,  I'm  speaking 
about  myself.  It  was  of  my  own  free  will  that  I  was 
converted  to  your  ideas,  but  now  this  nightmare  has 
waked  me  up!  I  was  mistaken!  We  have  both 
been  terribly  deceived!  I  remember  the  first  night 
we  stopped  Christian  prayer  with  our  little  boy! 
"No,  no,  my  child,  we  shan't  say  that  prayer  any 
more!"  I  was  giving  him  over  to  the  forces  of  evil, 
because  I  was  taking  God  away  from  him! 

Baudouin.  You  dare  tell  me  that!  But  what 
about  the  example  I  have  given  for  the  past  thirty- 
five  years?  Honor,  duty,  devotion,  they  were  the 
living  religion  I  had  to  give  to  Octave!  They  are 
worth  a  page  from  the  Catechism !  [Eugenie  starts 
to  speak.]  Go  away,  I  tell  you,  you  are  mad!  Now 
you  believe  in  God!  Become  a  Catholic  again! 
That  would  be  the  last  straw ! 

Eugenie  [as  she  goes  toward  the  right].  Think  it 
over,  I  advise  you.  I  don't  want  to  irritate  you: 
I'll  leave  you  alone  with  your  conscience.  Forget 
your  pride,  and  you  will  see  that  you  have  no  right  to 
blame  Octave.  You  have  no  right!  You  have  no 
right!  [She  goes  out. 

Baudouin  [after  a  moment' 's  hesitation].  Non- 
sense! [Once  more  he  starts  to  telephone,  but,  suddenly 
[107] 


Ad  III  THE  APOSTLE 


giving  up  that  idea,  he  decides  to  write  a  letter,  the  sen- 
tences of  which  he  recites  aloud.]  "  To  the  President 
of  the  Republic. — Sir:  Circumstances  have  forced 
me  to  apply  directly  to  you.  I  find  that  I  am  utterly 
unfitted  for  conducting  the  investigation  which  is  now 
going  on.  Among  those  implicated  in  the  Clerical 
matter  is  my  son  Octave" — [he  crosses  out  the  name] — 

"is  the  man  who  bears  my  name " 

[Enter  Arnaut  through  the  door  of  the  ante- 
chamber, unseen  by  Baudouin.] 
Arnaut.  My  dear  friend,  it's  a  complete  triumph ! 
There's  a  whole  crowd  here!  I  thought  I  should 
never  reach  the  door — as  it  was,  I  had  to  run  through 
the  dining-room.  Open  the  door  to  them — you've 
got  to  receive  them — and  the  street's  alive  with 
them!  I  feel  forty  years  younger — a  group  of  stu- 
dents cheered  me — I  tell  you,  the  Republic  can  still 
make  hearts  beat !  I  hope  this'll  help  you  get  better ! 
[Noticing  Baudouin 's  haggard  look.]  What's  the 
matter?  What  is  the  trouble?  Why,  old  man,  you 
frighten  me!  If  you're  sick,  let  me  call  your 
wife! 

[Baudouin,   who  remains   motionless,  hands 
Arnaut  the  letter  which  he  has  just  written.] 
To  the  President  of  the  Republic  ?    Your  resignation  \ 
[108] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  111 


What?      How's     this?      Your     son ?      Never! 

That's  impossible!     It  isn't  true 

Baudouin.  Every  word  of  it.  The  money  which 
his  secretary  received  for  him  he  spent.  On  the  eve 
of  our  last  battle — the  one  we  have  been  preparing  for 
thirty  years — he  sold  himself,  betrayed  us.  He's  a 
common  criminal. 

Arnaut.     Have  you  the  proofs? 

Baudouin.  I  have  his  confession — from  his  own 
lips. 

Arnaut.     My  poor  friend ! 

Baudouin.    Never  mind — leave  me  alone! 

Arnaut.    Is  it  possible?   Octave  Baudouin!   How 

could  he?     What  could  induce  him  to ?   Oh! 

Oh!     Turn  around! 

Baudouin  [hiding  his  face].  No — I  can't — one 
moment! 

Arnaut.  Come,  Baudouin,  I'm  your  old  com- 
rade, your  old  friend.     I'll  stand  by  you 

Baudouin  [grasping  his  hand  without  daring  to 
look  at  him].     Thank  you — thank  you 

Arnaut.  But — tell  me — explain — I  can't  see 
how  he  would  confess?  The  search  this  afternoon 
settles  that  point 

Baudouin.  The  search  this  afternoon?  He  ar- 
[109] 


Ad  III  THE  APOSTLE 


ranged  it,  set  it  like  a  play!  He  put  those  two 
thousand  francs  in  the  drawer! 

Aknaut.  What's  that?  Then  the  secretary  was 
not  an  accomplice? 

Baudouin  [at  last  looking  him  straight  in  the  face]. 
He  was  as  innocent  as  you  or  I. 

Arnaut.     Then ?    Your  son ? 

Baudouin.  My  son  is  the  meanest  of  scoundrels: 
he  has  not  hesitated  to  commit  a  crime,  and  he 
has  dragged  the  good  name  of  a  dead  man  in  the 
mire! 

Arnaut.  But — do  you  know?  Baudouin — this 
is  frightful! 

Baudouin.     What  ought  I  to  do?     [A  pause.] 

Arnaut.     What ?    You  ought — you  ought  to 

be  mistaken !  Your  son  confessed  to  you  his  treason 
to  the  party — that's  bad  enough,  but  he  certainly 
never  confessed  to  this  search  business.  That  would 
be  too  rotten ! 

Baudouin.  But  I  tell  you  he  did  it.  I  am  as 
sure  as  if  I'd  seen  him  do  it.  I  answer  for  Remillot's 
innocence;  I  feel  that  I  have  the  good  name  of  the 
dead  under  my  protection.     [A  pause.] 

Arnaut.    The  good  name  of  the  dead — the  honor 
of  a  man  that  is  dead — did  he  have  any  relatives? 
[110] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  III 


Baudouin.  Arnaut,  Arnaut !  He  is  innocent, 
and  you  ask  me  that !     [A  pause.] 

Arnaut.  Yes,  I  suggested  something  dishon- 
orable  [Angrily.]    You  had  no  business  asking  my 

advice!  Every  one  thinks  differently  in  a  case  like 
that.  Now  that  I  know,  I  have  nothing  further  to 
say.     Really,  this  is  horrible! 

Baudouin.  Very  well,  I'll  do  without  your  ad- 
vice. I  am  sending  this  letter  to  the  President  and 
copies  of  it  to  the  newspapers. 

Arnaut.  Are  you  altogether  crazy?  What  about 
your  colleagues — and  the  President  himself?  And 
his  friends?  You're  taking  a  grave  step  without 
consulting  them — you  aren't  a  child! 

Baudouin.  I've  been  in  hell  this  past  twenty- 
four  hours — remorse  is  nearly  killing  me.  I'm  at 
the  end  of  my  tether.  I'm  going  to  do  my  duty  no 
matter  if  it  kills  me! 

Arnaut.  But,  Baudouin,  think!  Why,  that 
will  shake  the  whole  of  France  from  end  to  end! 
First,  the  Cabinet  will  go.  [An  evasive  gesture  from 
Baudouin.]  Very  well — but  there's  more !  You  just 
said  we  are  on  the  eve  of  a  great  battle.  This  may 
be  the  blow  that  will  put  an  end  to  everything;  it 
may  give  us  over  to  a  dictatorship.  It's  the  end  of 
[111] 


Act  III  THE  APOSTLE 


everything.  Come,  now,  you  haven't  thought  of 
the  far-reaching  consequences.  It's  downright  mad- 
ness to  discuss  it! 

Baudouin.  Arnaut,  can  it  be  you  who  are  talk- 
ing to  me  that  way?  You  came  here,  to  this  very 
room,  two  weeks  ago,  and  begged  me  to  be  firm,  to 
apply  the  red-hot  iron  to  every  wound.  I  accepted 
the  task  in  order  that  I  might  take  care  of  our  great 
patient.  If  I  failed  to  do  my  duty  I  should  be  only 
more  firmly  planting  the  germs  of  the  disease  that 
are  gnawing  at  her  very  vitals,  because  my  son  is 
a  victim  of  the  same  disease  and  I  haven't  the  cour- 
age to  sacrifice  him.  If  I  failed  to  do  that  I  should 
be  twice  a  traitor  in  betraying  the  confidence  which 
honest  people  have  placed  in  me! 

Arnaut.  That's  true,  my  friend,  only  too  true. 
But  now    that  you  are  Minister,  you  have  still 

higher  responsibilities [Pointing  to  Baudouin.] 

Now  the  disease  is  too  near  the  heart,  and  the  oper- 
ation would  be  fatal. 

Baudouin.  What  would  be  a  surer  death  is  our 
silence.  Do  you  think  me  capable  of  keeping  silence 
in  a  matter  of  this  kind?  You  can  have  no  idea  of 
what  has  been  going  on  within  me  since  last  evening. 
If  you  knew  what  my  son  cast  in  my  teeth — like  some 
[112  1 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  III 


low  criminal — and  with  what  logic !  He  literally 

stoned  me,  and  with  my  own  ideals.  Pure  reason 
can  turn  out  terrible  monsters !  Reason  can  kill  the 
conscience !  Arnaut,  Arnaut,  this  is  the  most  critical 
hour  of  my  life.  I  feel  every  conviction  of  mine 
slipping  from  me,  all  the  confidence  I  ever  had  in  all 
my  ideas,  my  whole  past,  and  my  future.  I  feel  the 
nothingness  of  the  grave  before  death! 

Arnaut.  Now  you're  imagining  things !  You've 
been  struck  a  terrible  blow,  but  let  me  appeal  to  your 
reason.  I  am,  it's  true,  appalled  by  what  you've 
told  me.  To  think  that  your  son,  who  had  every 
opportunity  to  remain  honest,   whose  career  was 

well  before  him  and  full  of  promise Yes,  I  tell 

you.  I  can  hardly  believe  it.  The  conscience  of  the 
younger  generation  is  rapidly  fading  away  into 
nothing 

Baudouin.    You  see?    You  see ? 

Arnaut.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  we  mustn't 
exaggerate.  Every  family  has  its  own  misfortunes, 
and  there  are  monsters  in  every  age.  Think  of  all 
those  rascals  who  lived  off  the  Church  under  the 
Empire!  But  I  tell  you,  if  your  letter  leaves  this 
office  our  enemies  will  enjoy  the  greatest  imaginable 
triumph.  I  can  hear  them  yelping  like  cannibals. 
[113] 


Act  III  THE  APOSTLE 


Our  friends  will  be  overthrown — all  sorts  of  insinu- 
ations made.  They  will  say  that  this  is  the  result 
of  the  Godless  schools,  of  the  whole  age,  of  the 
Republic!  There  won't  be  a  freethinker  who  will 
dare  show  his  face  for  the  next  ten  years! 

Baudouin.  But  I  will !  I  will  prove  my  faith  by 
the  example  I  shall  give.  I'm  still  smarting  from  the 
insulting  words  of  my  son;  I  must  wipe  that  out  in 
order  that  my  ideals  may  still  hold. 

Arnaut.  Nonsense,  that  isn't  the  question.  You 
must  do  your  duty  as  a  Minister  first  of  all.  You're 
now  at  the  wheel  in  the  midst  of  a  storm;  there  is 
disease  aboard  the  ship,  but  what  goes  on  in  the  hold 
has  nothing  to  do  with  the  pilot.  It's  your  business 
to  steer  us  safe  to  port.  You  haven't  the  right  to 
blow  up  the  ship! 

Baudouin.  You've  got  to  find  some  one  else  at 
once.  Possibly — possibly,  I  may  consent  to  keep 
still,  but  I  must  resign — and  then  go  away. 

Ahnaut.  But  you  can't  do  that!  Your  resigna- 
tion would  mean  a  confession  and  the  defeat  of  the 
education  law.     You  must  stay. 

Baudouin.  And  continue  with  the  investigation? 
Arrest  others  and  let  my  son  go  free? 

Arnaut.  I  don't  mean  that.  I  want  justice 
[114] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  III 


done,  and  at  once.  But  since  that's  out  of  the  ques- 
tion, we'll  spar  for  time  and  the  investigation  will 
drag  on 

Boudouin.  So  you  want  to  make  that  sort  of 
man  of  me :  a  pharisee  posing  as  an  apostle !  I  must 
be  false  to  my  trust,  save  a  scoundrel,  and  defame 
the  dead !  Well,  you  have  me  bound  hand  and  foot : 
I  shan't  resign — and  I  am  no  longer  an  honest 
man 

Arnaut.  Don't  think  of  yourself — we  don't 
count  now.  There  are  cases  like  this  where  a  leader 
owes  everything  to  his  party,  even  the  sacrifice  of 
his  conscience. 

Baudouin.     But  this  is  sickening — monstrous 

Arnaut.  There  are  duties  that  are  infamous  to 
perform — they  are  the  greatest.  Let  me  suffer  your 
remorse  for  you. 

Baudouin  [afraid  of  himself] .  No,  no,  leave  me  my 
remorse,  that's  all  I  have  left  of  my  conscience 


Arnaut.    Now,  good-bye,  I  have  your  promise 

Baudouin.     No,  you  haven't — I  can't  do  it! 

Arnaut.     I  tell  you,  it's  got  to  be. 

Baudouin.    And  I  say  No.    Don't  go  yet.   Arnaut, 

Arnaut,  please 

Arnaut  [going].    You  must  stay  at  your  post — 
[115] 


Act  III  THE  APOSTLE 


we've  decided  that.  [He  goes  out,  right.  Baudouin, 
overwhelmed,  remains  fixed  where  he  stands.  A  mo- 
ment later  enter  Clotilde  through  the  same  door  by 
which  Arnaut  left.] 

Clotilde.  Well,  Father,  what  has  been  happen- 
ing? I've  just  seen  the  Speaker — he's  so  excited. 
Where  is  Octave?  He's  not  been  home  since  last 
evening — this  is  terrible!  We  must  save  him — my 
husband — your  son 

Baudouin.  Have  you  read  this  article?  [He 
shows  her  the  "Avant  Garde."] 

Clotilde.  No,  I've  read  nothing  but  that  awful 
report  in  this  morning's  paper,  where  Octave's  name 
appeared  in  large  letters.  Oh,  Father,  I'm  so 
ashamed!  I've  done  what  you  and  Grandmother 
have  done:  shut  myself  up,  hidden  all  day.  But  now 
I  can't  help  it,  I  can  only  think  of  my  children — their 
good  name — Octave  is  their  father — we  must  save 
him! 

Baudouin.  He's  lost  no  time!  See  what  he's 
done  since  last  night!  He  demanded  a  search  of 
Remillot's  rooms.  They  found  two  thousand  francs 
in  a  drawer,  tickets  for  the  "Pari  Mutuel,"  lewd  pho- 
tographs strewn  about,  everything  in  disorder,  lady'f 
underwear  on  the  bed 


[116] 


THE  APOSTLE  Act  III 


Clotilde  [stupefied].     At  Remillot's ? 

Baudouin.  I  tell  you,  if  there  were  the  slightest 
chance  of  your  being  mistaken  about  that  boy,  if  he 
wasn't  the  man  we  all  took  him  for,  if  it  was  he  who 

took  the  money  and  killed  himself  out  of  fear 

Clotilde,  Clotilde,  I  am  ready  to  wish  that  he  was  the 
guilty  one ! 

Clotilde  [who  has  glanced  through  the  article]. 
How  abominable!  The  day  he  disappeared  I  saw 
his  rooms;  I  went  there  with  Octave — remember,  I 
told  you?  The  rooms  were  in  disorder,  but  it  was 
the  simple  disorder  of  poverty.  On  the  mantel- 
piece were  pictures  of  the  men  he  admired:  Quinet, 
Michelet,  Lamennais — and  you.  His  plain  little 
cot  had  not  been  touched  since  the  night  before 

Baudouin.  You  poor  woman,  you've  brought 
me  the  final  proof  and  destroyed  my  last  hope!  It 
seems  as  if  my  son  were  dying — and  you  have  con- 
demned him! 

Clotilde.  Oh — and  he  did  that !  He  dared  pro- 
fane the  dead?  He  is  too  low  for  words.  But  he 
counted  without  me !  This  time,  I  give  him  up ! — let 
me  tell  the  whole  truth! 

Baudouin.   Then,  Clotilde,  shall  we  denounce  him ? 

Coltilde.      Wait,    Father It's    downright 

[1H] 


Ad  III  THE  APOSTLE 


madness,  now  I  come  to  think  of  it.  You  and 
I  are  the  only  living  people  who  know  the  truth. 
We  have  only  to  say  nothing  in  order  to  be  saved, 
and  yet  we  are  going  to  sacrifice  ourselves  for 
some  one  who  is  no  longer  living — who  is  nothing 
— nothing  at  all — and — no  God  to  reward  us  for 
it ! 

Baudouin  [with  all  the  strength  of  his  faith].  It  all 
amounts  to  the  same  thing — let's  not  reason  about 
it — we  have  the  truth  on  our  side. 

Clotilde.     My  poor  children! 

Baudouin.  Their  father  doesn't  exist  for  them. 
They  are  your  children — my  children — they  will 
never  have  to  blush  because  of  us. 

Clotilde.  Oh,  I  can't,  I  can't.  Father — Father 
— take  pity 

Baudouin  [stretching  his  arms  toward  the  window]. 
Listen  to  that !    Listen 

Clotilde.     What?     What  is  it? 

Baudouin.  The  evening  papers.  Don't  you 
hear? 

[Shouts  are  heard  in  the  street  below.] 

Clotilde.  What  are  they  shouting?  I  can't 
make  out. 

[The  cries  sound  nearer.] 
[118] 


THE  APOSTLE  Ad  HI 


Baudouin  [repeating  the  cries].  "Justification  of 
Baudouin  the  younger — Guilt  of  Remillot." 

Clotilde.  No,  no,  no — stop  them!  Father,  this 
is  horrible.  We  are  killing  the  dead!  Make  them 
stop !  Make  them !  [She  runs  and  opens  the  window 
and  cries  out.]    Stop!  Stop! 

Baudouin  [suddenly  making  up  his  mind].    Shall  I 

have  all  those  people  come  in? 

Clotilde  [after  a  moment's  hesitation].    Kiss  me! 

[They  kiss,  then  Baudouin  with  a  firm  step 

goes  to  the  door  of  the  antechamber;  then  he 

stops,  turns  to  Clotilde,  who  motions  to  him 

to  go  on,  turns  the  key  in  the  lock,  opens  the 

door  and  admits  the  crowd.     They  enter  in 

wild  excitement  and  grasp  Baudouin's  hand, 

exclaiming.] 

All.     Here  he  is!    Triumph!    Victory  for  the 

education  law!    The  crowning  glory  of  your  whole 

career!    Your  son  is  wonderful!    Where  is  he?    Go 

to  the  window — they're  cheering  you 

[Cries  of  "Long  live  Baudouin!"  in  the  street.] 
Here's  the  Speaker! 

Ferrand  [coming  forward].  My  heartiest  congrat- 
ulations, my  dear  Baudouin.     Your  friends  never 

for  a  moment  doubted Really,  this  affair  has 

[119] 


Act  III  THE  APOSTLE 


been  the  best  possible  thing  for  us.     It'll  give  us  full 
sway  for  at  least  three  years  to  come. 

[Baudouin  sinks  down  into  a  chair.] 
All.     What's  the  matter?    He's  sick!    Monsieur 
le  ministre,  are  you  sick? 

Baudouin  [his  voice  trembling  with  emotion]. 
Messieurs,  if  the  principles  of  my  whole  life  mean 
anything  to  me — if  I  owe  anything  to  the  honor  of 
the  Republic,  which  no  personal  matter  like  the 
present  can  harm — then  I  must  make  a  statement  to 
you. 

[They  show  keen  curiosity.] 
My  dear  Ferrand,  I  am  going  to  ask  you  to  tender 
my  resignation  to  the  President  of  the  Republic. 

[General  stupefaction:  exclamations,  etc.  Bau- 
douin hands  his  letter  to  Ferrand,  then  his 
voice  becomes  stronger.] 

Remillot  was  innocent [Then,  rising,  fearlessly.] 

My  son  was  the  guilty  one ! 


curtain 


[120] 


THE   COUNTRY   LIFE    PRESS 
GARDEN   CITY,    N.   Y. 


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